Disclaimer: I don't
own any of these characters. I'm just using them merely for this story.
Well, except for Puja, Teili and Jyp. They're supposed to represent me
and my childhood friend and childhood crush. Heh. So anyways, without further
ado...Enjoy the story!
Prologue
Hi,
my name is Puja Naberrie Skywalker and I am just 5 years old. I don’t know who
my parents are and well, you must think how weird is that, I mean, I don’t even
know my own parents and they are the ones who brought me into this world. Well,
this is what I’m going to tell you. It is all about my life and how I got to
the Jedi Academy and why the Masters of the Jedi Council won’t tell me anything
about my family. This might not be so accurate as the Masters told me this
story when they rescued me. It all started when I was just a newborn baby.
After my mommy gave birth to me, the nurses took me away to another part of the
hospital, it was the Nursery, I think. Even before I was born, my mommy and
daddy weren’t even expecting me, and I’m not saying I was an accident, I’m
saying I came just as a surprise. But anyways, as I was among the other
newborns in the nursery sleeping, all of a sudden, these people dressed in
white armour came into the nursery, which gave all of us babies a real shock
that we all started crying and no one seemed to hear us. It was like the whole
floor was deserted. But anyways, we were all crying, especially me when I
figured out that I was in the arms of this ugly looking creature who looked
like he had no nose, the Masters tell me that he is the Viceroy, Nute Gunray.
So, anyways, I kept on crying, I was so scared, they took me out of the
hospital and into their ship where they took me to this planet far, far away
from Coruscant. If I can remember what the Masters told me, it was called
Geonosis. As they were carrying me to their master, an old man with a beard,
the Masters say he is Count Dooku. I cried harder than ever. I didn’t know what
was happening to me, I didn’t know if my mommy and daddy would come to rescue
me. Well, they didn’t, but that’s when the Masters of the Jedi Council did. I
saw a bald headed person, his name is Master Windy, then Master Yoda came too
and some other Master Jedi’s. I think Master Yoda is the cutest though. I’m
even taller than he is. It’s funny. Anyways, I think I better get going, I’m
supposed to be in bed right now. Everyone’s sleeping. Good night!
Chapter
1
Meanwhile,
at the Skywalker homestead, even after 5 years, Padme Naberrie Skywalker is
still grieving for her lost daughter. Anakin walks into the master bedroom of
their home on the planet of Naboo. He sees Padme lying on the bed crying. He
walks over to her and sits on the bed as he gives her a quick kiss on the lips before
telling her, "It’ll be ok sweetheart, it’ll be ok; it’s been 5 years since
she’s mysteriously just disappeared, we can try to find her, but it will be
hard. We have to accept that she is forever gone." Padme looks deep in to
her husband’s eyes, "I know, but Anakin, I can’t, when I lost Puja, I lost
part of me as well. I’m scared Ani, what if she’s somewhere with bad
people." "I know Padme, I know…" he said as he paused to look at
his darling wife straight in the eye before saying, "…that’s why I’m going
to go RIGHT NOW to find her, I’m going to take Luke with me. You and Leia stay
here. Goodbye for now my love," "Anakin…" Padme says as she
searches his eyes and sees the seriousness in his voice and face, "…but
Anakin, I will go with you…I want to see my baby aga-" "No, Padme,
you have got to stay, there might be danger if my visions are correct. You have
to protect Leia too. If I find Puja, I am going to bring her back and I’ll
contact you right away with any news I find. You promise me Padme, you promise
me you’ll stay here and protect Leia?" Padme just looks at her husband
with tearful eyes before she throws her arms over him to embrace him, "Oh
Anakin, be careful and take care of my Lukey," "Don’t worry Padme,
Luke will be alright, Obi-Wan is going to stay with you and Leia while Luke and
I are gone…" Anakin tells her as he caresses her cheek and wipes away her
tears before bringing her mouth close to his in a deep, passionate kiss, which
then he breaks away to tell her, "…I love you Padme. Goodbye." Anakin
finishes as he gets up and leaves the room as he closes the door behind him,
leaving Padme to collect her thoughts. After a minute or two, she gets up and
tells herself, "No Anakin, I can’t let you do this alone, I’m coming with
you…" before she opens the door to their bedroom and quickly runs out to
gather Leia and takes her to the ship with Obi-Wan behind her.
She
sees her son and husband getting ready for the long journey ahead of them.
"ANAKIN, NO, I can’t let you do this alone," Padme yells as she runs
to her husband while holding Leia’s hand. "Padme, what are you
doing…" Anakin says curiously as he embraces her. "You know you can’t
come with me," Anakin tells her. "But Anakin, you know I can fight
anything, remember the Arena, remember the fight at the Arena, Obi-Wan is going
to come with us too…Anakin, I can’t let you and Luke go alone, I feel another
part of my soul is being taken away when you two go…please Anakin, let me, Leia
and Obi-Wan come with you?" Anakin looks at his wife’s tearful eyes before
saying, "But Padme, well, sure, come along, I guess." Padme gives
Anakin a great big hug before ending it with a kiss on the lips. After, they
all run in to the ship and get ready for their trip to find the missing
Skywalker, Puja Naberrie Skywalker.
Chapter
2
As
the morning sun shines on top of the Jedi Temple several Padawans get up to
meditate to start their day. Puja, on the other hand, decides to sleep for a
little while more. It isn’t until her best friend; Teili opens the door and
runs to her yelling. Puja gets up instantly from the sudden shook. "Oh
Teili, what’s wrong now?" Puja said as she got out of bed and into her
bathroom. "I have good news Puja, you have got to hear this!!!!"
"Alright, Alright, what is it?" Puja said impatiently while she gave
out a little bit of laughter. "Well, the council has decided a short
break, we get to go home and see our parents, how good is that?" Puja
stops laughing at that moment as she walks over to her bed and sits down as she
tells Teili sadly, "It’s great Teili, that’s great news," she says as
she whimpers. Teili, who had just remembered that her friend didn’t know where,
let alone, who her parents were, walked over and sat next to Puja. "I’m
sorry Puja, I’m sorry, I forgot…" Teili apologizes. "It’s okay Teili,
it’s not your fault, I just wonder why the Masters won’t tell me who my parents
really are, I mean, they "claim" to know my so-called father, what
are they trying to hide?" "I don’t know Puja, I don’t know, but I
will always be with you, remember, Friends Forever, right?" Teili said as
she hugged her best friend tightly close. "Right Teili, thanks," Puja
hugs her back.
They
finally stop hugging and Teili asks her, "Well, how about we get some
breakfast, shall we?" "That would be nice, I am a little bit
hungry," Puja said as she smiled and held her best friend’s hand and they
skipped all the way to the Mess Hall where most of the students were already
eating. They walk over to a table where they saw their fellow other 5-year-old
friends. "Hey Puja, Teili, good morning," their friend, Jyp waves
them over to sit next to him. Puja was the first to speak, "Same to you
Jyp." "Yes, good morning Jyp," Teili replies back as she sits
down ready to eat. Puja always felt comfortable when she was around Jyp, it’s probably
mostly that Jyp is in the same boat with his parents, he never knew them ever
since the day he was born to now. So she has someone to relate too. Sometimes
Puja and Jyp would talk alone for hours about the parent issue, but after it
would make them cry they switched topics to their common abilities or maybe
their studies. As the trio ate their breakfast, they talked about lightsabers.
"Yeah, I know, when are we going to get our sabers, when we do, I want to
make one with a light blue crystal," Puja states and Teili follows by
stating, "Blue is a nice colour, but I think mine would be an emerald
green. What about you Jyp? What colour would you like for your
lightsaber?" "Hmm, I don’t know, maybe gold or topaz," Jyp
exclaims. After eating, they all held each other’s hands as they walked out of
the Mess Hall together and to their first class, History.
Chapter
3
Five,
four, three, two, one…As the countdown to light speed got closer and
closer to one everyone was nervous and worried at the same time. Padme always
stayed with Leia as Anakin did the same with Luke and Obi-Wan worked at
piloting the ship with Luke at his aide. "Obi-Wan, do you really think we
could find her?" Luke asked curiously. "I feel so, somehow, I’m not
sure how, but I can feel her nearby…" Obi-Wan answered as Anakin and Padme
both cut in, "NEARBY?!? Where is she?" they both yelled which
startled Obi-Wan. "I don’t know where exactly, but my senses feel her
near…Anakin, can’t you sense her?" Obi-Wan asked puzzled. Anakin looked at
his former Master straight in the eye, "Well, I’ve had some visions of bad
things happening to her, but I haven’t ever sensed her nearby." Luke
interrupted their conversation and Anakin couldn’t have been more relieved,
"Dad, we’re reaching Coruscant in about 1 standard hours."
"Alright, Padme take Leia back to be seated, we’ll be landing shortly;
Luke, do you want to show those landing skills of yours now," Anakin said
as he looked at Padme and Leia sitting down in the chairs strapped up. "Sure,
dad, one second," Luke replied as he checked over the controls for the
landing cycle. "Alright, ready, sit down dad, I’m going to start the
landing cycle right about………now." As Anakin sits down, Luke starts the
landing cycle. All of a sudden from a gentle landing cycle everything starts to
get rather bumpy. Anakin shouts to his son, "LUKE!!! Settle it down
Luke!!!!" "Dad, I can’t, I’m not doing this, I’m not the one landing
the ship anymore, something strange is happening," Luke yelled back as he
tries to get to the root of the problem. "What?!? Then what could it
be…Obi-Wan, I can’t sense anything, can you?" Anakin changed the
conversation to Obi-Wan. "Anakin, I’m not sure exactly what it is, but
whatever it is, it’s not good." Obi-Wan replied.
Meanwhile,
in History class, Puja, Teili and Jyp are paying attention to Master Windu’s
lecture. "Hey Puja, look at what Jyp drew of Master Windy?" Teili
whispered quietly to her best friend. "Oh Teili, it’s Windu, Master
Windu…" Puja said as the paper handed to her by Teili interrupted her. As
soon as she looked at it, she burst out with laughter, "Oh Jyp, you are so
mean," Puja said still laughing and obviously she wouldn’t tell Jyp he was
mean on purpose, he knew she was joking because he started to laugh too. Then,
all of a sudden, they were all laughing and Master Windu heard. He walked over
to the trio and stood with his arms crossed as if just waiting for them to stop
laughing and he finally said, "Puja, Teili, and Jyp, may ask what could
possibly be so funny about the hundreds of thousands of Jedi that died during
the Clone wars?" They all stopped laughing all so suddenly and looked up
at Master Windu as each of them in turn gulped. Puja was the first to speak,
"We’re sorry Master Windu, we won’t interrupt the class again," she
ended lamely. "Yes Master Windu, we won’t do that again, we’re
sorry," Teili and Jyp both replied at the same time. Master Windu eyed
them curiously before getting down on his knees to make eye contact with the
trio to tell them, "I sure hope not…" and just as he was getting up
he looked in Puja’s direction and quietly told her, "Puja, can you see me
after class?" "Yes Master Windu," Puja acknowledged not trying
to look scared. Master Windu nodded and walked back to the front of the class
as the bell rang indicating the end of class. Everybody left and the room was
empty in a matter of just seconds. Only Puja, Teili and Jyp remained alone with
Master Windu in the room. Teili didn’t want to leave Puja alone so she decided
to stay with her and Jyp just wanted to stay with both of them since he had the
next class with the two. "You may go to your next class Teili and Jyp, I
must speak with Puja alone," Master Windu excused them, but still they
didn’t budge. "Master Windu, if you don’t mind I would like to stay with
Puja, I don’t have to hear what you have to tell her, but still, I would like
to stay with her," Teili replied to Master Windu and Jyp acknowledged that
he meant the same thing. Even though Master Windu just wanted to talk to Puja
and Puja alone he couldn’t help but just acknowledge them to stay with her.
"Alright, you can stay, but you can’t tell anybody about this, first of
all, the Council doesn’t want this getting around and second, I’m sure Puja
wouldn’t want this to go around too," Master Windu said as he looked down
at Puja, who looked back up at him with a look of curiousity on her face. As
Master Windu went down on his knees to make eye contact with Puja, he put his
hand on her shoulder and spoke softly, "Puja, I have some news for you,"
"What is it Master Windu?" Puja asked curiously. "Well, we may
have just found new foster parents for you," Master Windu told her.
"What? But Master Windu, what about my real parents, you said that you
know my father, why can’t you find them for me? Are they dead, is that why
Master Windu, is that why the council won’t tell me about my real family?"
Puja said as she immediately ran out of the room crying. Back in the room,
Master Windu got up feeling sorry for her and then all of a suddenly Teili
tells Master Windu, "Why can’t you or the council just tell her about her
family, you know and now you can see how she’s being hurt inside, if you know
her father, why don’t you tell her? She should know," Teili finished as
she ran out of the room to find her best friend and told Jyp to come too.
Master Windu looked towards the door as Teili and Jyp left the room, he
couldn’t help but feel sorry for Puja, he decided to discuss this with the
council and Master Yoda. He immediately went to talk to the council about this
matter.
Meanwhile,
back on the ship with the Skywalkers’ and Obi-Wan, they are still trying to
land, but Luke isn’t in control of the controls anymore and he doesn’t know
what’s happening. He takes a glance at his father who, by his guess, seems to
be using some Jedi technique to slow the ship, but it doesn’t seem to be
working. Anakin quickly yells for Obi-Wan, "OBI-WAN!!!! WHAT’S WRONG??? I
NEED YOUR HELP!! I CAN’T USE THE FORCE ON MY OWN!!!! I NEED YOUR HELP
OBI-WAN!!!!" "Anakin, stay calm, keep using the force to slow the
ship down," Obi-Wan told him. Anakin looked confusingly at him, "But,
Obi-Wan, what are you going to do? I need your he-" "Anakin, don’t
worry about me, keep using the force to slow the ship, just trust me with this,
ok?" Obi-Wan turned to face Anakin as he spoke. "Alright, Alright,
lets do this," Anakin acknowledged. With one last turn to his daughter and
wife, he concentrated all of his strength on the ship to slow it down.
"Dad, it’s working, it’s working," Luke yelled, but Anakin didn’t seem
to hear him, he was still concentrating on slowly landing the ship on the
landing bay of Coruscant’s port. Once he felt it was safely on the ground,
Anakin opened his eyes to see Luke, Leia and Padme hovering over him. The only
person he couldn’t see was Obi-Wan. After hugging each and one of them he asked
Padme, "Padme, where…where is he? Where is Obi-Wan?" he said
worryingly. "I…I don’t know Anakin, he kept saying, ‘Why is he doing
this’…Anakin, do you know what Obi-Wan’s talking about?" Padme said equally
as worried as her husband. "I don’t know, but I have to find out, Padme,
do you remember the way to the Jedi Temple?" Anakin asked her more
seriously. "Ok, I want you to go there and take Luke and Leia with you,
find Master Windu or Yoda, you’ll be safe there," Anakin told her.
"Ok, but where are you going?" Padme asked her husband. Anakin looked
into Padme’s eyes before saying, "I’m…I’m…don’t worry about me Padme, just
get to the Jedi Temple and make sure you, Luke and Leia are safe, you
understand me?" "Yes…" Padme said as she gave him a deep,
passionate kiss before breaking away and telling him, "I love you, good
luck…come on you two, lets go Luke, Leia," Padme finished. "We’re
coming mom; bye daddy," Leia says as she hugs her dad. "Yeah, bye
dad. Come back with Obi-Wan soon," Luke says as he hugs his dad.
"Yeah, I will, bye you guys, and take care of your mom," Anakin tells
them. "We will," Luke replies as he takes his mothers and Leia’s hand
and Anakin sees them walk out of the ship towards the Jedi Temple.
Chapter
4
Anakin
turns back to the ships controls and gathers what he would need, which is
mostly his lightsaber, so he gets his lightsaber and robe and locks the ship’s
hatch as he runs out to find Obi-Wan to help him fight whomever he’s fighting.
From a distance he caught a blue bladed lightsaber, which he had guessed it was
Obi-Wan. With lightsaber ready in his hand he runs to the fight. "Obi-Wan,
I’ve come to help you!" Anakin shouts to his former Master. "Thanks
Anakin, I could really use your help right about now," Obi-Wan said
somewhat out of breath. Anakin switches his lightsaber on and gets ready to
fight whenever Obi-Wan wants him to get in. Obi-Wan gives a nod of
acknowledgement to come in now. Anakin runs straight toward their opponent lightsaber
ready as he deflected blaster bolts. After awhile, getting tired of deflecting
the shots ran back to Obi-Wan and still deflecting asked him, "I can’t
sense him part of the Empire, who is he?" "I don’t know Anakin, he’s
for sure not part of the Empire, that much is clear, but for some reason he
seems very familiar," Obi-Wan told Anakin. To change the subject Obi-Wan
asked Anakin, "Where is Luke, Leia and Padme? Are they safe?"
"Yes, they are safe, I told Padme to take Luke and Leia to the Jedi Temple,
they would be safe there," Anakin told him. "Obi-Wan, we can’t keep
doing this, we can’t keep deflecting his shots, we’re going to be here all
day," Anakin mentioned. "You’re right Anakin…ok, keep deflecting and
on my count we will make a run for it to the Jedi Temple," Obi-Wan
replies. Anakin nods his acknowledgement. As they keep deflecting they slowly
move a step back so then when they will be out of range they could make a run
for it. Finally, as they reach a safe distance away from their opponent they
start to turn to run to the Jedi Temple.
As
they reached the entrance to the Jedi Temple they were now out of breath, they
went in and saw Luke, Leia and Padme still at the entrance. They reunited with
them and went to see Master Windu and Yoda. "Anakin, I’m so glad you’re
back," Padme says as she embraces him so tightly that he feels himself
turning blue, but he embraces her back and they end it with a quick kiss on the
lips. As all of them are walking to the council’s room, a young girl rushes past
them followed by another girl who yelled to her, "Hey wait, Puja
wait," with a boy behind her. The name that the little girl called just
struck all of them, they stopped the young girl to ask her. Padme asks the
little girl, "Hey, wait, the little girl with the boy." Teili and Jyp
both look back to the people they just rushed past. "Obi-Wan, how come I
can sense Puja really nearby, like she’s in this very building and that was her
that just rushed past us?" Anakin asked questionably. "I don’t know
Anakin, I can sense I deep feeling that her presence is very nearby too, keep
your mind clear," Obi-Wan tells him. Teili and Jyp look over to where Puja
ran to and then back at the strangers. She walked over to the strangers with
Jyp behind her. "Yes, are you talking to me?" Teili asked Padme.
"Actually, yes I was…" Padme replied as she kneeled to make eye
contact with the little girl, "…um, actually, I was wondering who you were
calling to, the other little girl who rushed by?" "Oh, that’s just my
best friend, her name is Puja," Teili replied confidently. Padme’s eyes
lit up with real joy, "Really, well, is her full name by the way, Puja
Naberrie Skywalker? I’m sorry if you must feel uncomfortable, but I…we need to
know," Padme asks the girl. "Oh, no, ma’am, you’re not making me feel
uncomfortable, but I would rather not say my friend’s name to complete
strangers who she or I don’t know, I’m sorry I couldn’t really help, well, I
should go, we should find her now, bye; come on Jyp," Teili tells Jyp.
"Coming," Jyp replies. "Well, what’s your name?" Padme asks
the girl. Teili turns back to the lady and saw that look in her eyes and
decided to give in, "It’s Teili and this is my friend Jyp, goodbye,"
Teili said as she and Jyp turned and ran they way Puja had just ran through.
"Thanks Teili," Padme says to herself as Anakin helps her up.
"It’s ok sweetheart, we’ll find her, don’t worry," Anakin said as he
comforted her by hugging her. "I know, I know, but I was so sure that that
was the girl who was crying that was my Puja," Padme said as she looked up
at her husband. "I know, but it probably wasn’t, we’ll find her, don’t
worry my sweetheart, we’ll find her and we will be able to hug her and hold her
and kiss her for the rest of her life and ours," Anakin told her smiling.
"I know, I so can’t wait for that moment Anakin, I so can’t wait,’ Padme
told her husband as she hugged him and then they all walked to see Master Windu
and Yoda. From the distance, they could see Yoda, Yoda came to greet them,
"Obi-Wan and Skywalker, good to see it is, come, take you to see Master
Windu as well, I will," Yoda exclaimed. "It is good to see you again
too Master Yoda, Anakin feels the same way too," Obi-Wan was the one to
reply. "Yes, here, Master Windu here he is, come, come in," Yoda
replied. "Master Windu, guests we have; Obi-Wan and Anakin Skywalker have
come," Yoda told Master Windu. "Hello Obi-Wan, Anakin, it is good to
see after all this time," Mace Windu replies as he turns to face them from
looking out the window. "Same to you Master Windu," Obi-Wan tells
him.
Chapter
5
Meanwhile,
in Puja’s room, Teili and Jyp walk in and Teili runs to her best friends aide.
"Puja, are you alright?" she says as she hugs her best friend and
sits next her with one arm around her. Jyp walks over and sits down next to her
and holds her hand too. "It’ll be okay Puja, maybe these parents will be
nice, if I had the chance, I would go for it. I’ve missed my parents too, but
after 5 years I’m not so sure if their going to come for me, atleast you will
get to have parents," Jyp tells her. Puja looks at both her best friends
before saying, "I know, but if the Masters’ say they know my
"father" then why can’t they just find my parents for me, I mean,
what are they trying to hide? I still don’t understand, why can’t I know about
my parents?" Puja says as she bursts into tears again. "Well, I don’t
know Puja, but you know how secretive the council is, and in a way I kind of
agree with Jyp on the foster parents, I mean, even though I have my own
parents, I want to see you happy, and Puja, you’re not happy without parents,
atleast you will have two of those people that will love you and care for you,
right?" Teili said trying to make her friend understand. "Yeah, I
guess. Maybe I should go and apologize to Master Windy and tell him that I’ll
accept the offer about the foster parents," Puja says as she hugs both her
friends in turn. "Now, that’s the Puja we know," Jyp said jokingly.
"Oh Jyp," Puja said as she gave him another hug. Then the trio all gave
each other a hug at the same time. They played for a little awhile in Puja’s
room after it was time for bed. "Hey, you guys, do you mind if you stay
with me? Just like sleepover for tonight." Puja asked them. Teili looked
at Puja, then at Jyp, and then at Puja again before replying excitedly,
"Sure Puja, we would love too," Teili said as she and Jyp both went
into the bed and started to sleep. "Hey, who keeps kicking? Please
stop," Puja says jokingly. "Oh sorry Puja," Jyp replies with a
little tone of laughter, which got all of them laughing. "Well, I think we
should go to bed now; Goodnight Puja, Jyp," Teili told them. "Night
Teili, Puja," Jyp replied. "Yeah, Goodnight Teili, goodnight
Jyp," Puja said as she started to fall into a deep sleep.
As
the Skywalkers’ finish their welcoming talk with Mace Windu and Yoda, they
started to head up to their that Mace and Yoda had told them about to stay in
for the night. Anakin gives Luke and Leia a little nudge as the two started to
doze off to sleep already. "Come on you two, we’re going up to our rooms
now, just a little bit more and you can sleep nicely in a bed," Anakin
tells them both. "Alright Dad," Luke replied as he got some bags and
started to go up. "Right Daddy," Leia said as she followed her mother
upstairs. Luke and Leia and Obi-Wan were to stay on the 2nd floor,
while Anakin and Padme on the 3rd floor, the floor that Puja’s room is in and
little did Puja know, her parents were sleeping right next to her room. As
Anakin and Padme got settled down to bed Anakin tells his wife, "Padme,
how come I can sense her nearby?" he says confusingly. "I don’t know
Anakin, maybe it’s just from the sudden shock when we first thought that the
crying girl was our Puja…don’t worry about it though, we’ll find her
honey," Padme assured her husband as she gave him a quick kiss before
saying, "Goodnight honey." She turned out the lights and soon fell
into a deep sleep. Anakin took his shirt off and too laid down to sleep, but
found that he couldn’t get the thought that his daughter was so close by, still
he tried to fall asleep as Padme helped him too. Soon he and Padme were both
fast asleep.
Chapter 6
As the morning sun shines through the window, the trio pulls the blanket over their eyes and turn to the side at the same time. It isn’t until they hear a loud noise outside the room that they suddenly get up and rush to see what had happened. It was only a droid who happened to trip over a whole lot of garbage that someone must have left there laying on the ground. As everyone started walking back into their rooms, Puja thought she heard what sounded like her mother’s voice. Teili and Jyp shook her out of her daydream as they pulled her in the room. "GOOD MORNING PUJA," Teili and Jyp both yelled as they hugged her. Puja just laughed as she hugged them both back and said, "Good morning to you too you guys." After they all got ready, Teili asked Puja and Jyp, "Well, how about we go get something to eat now?" Puja and Jyp both reply, "Sure, let’s go." They all held each other’s hands as they walked down to the Mess Hall together. As usual everyone was already there eating, but Puja felt another presence, a new presence. It was quickly disrupted as Teili pulled her toward the direction of the other 5-year-olds. The trio sat down and waited to be served. As Anakin, Padme, Luke, Leia and Obi-Wan eat their breakfast Padme asks her children, "So, how did you two sleep?" They gulped down whatever was in their mouth as they both replied, "Good mom," and went back to eating. As the trio finished eating they went outside with their other 5-year-old friends to the playground to play. After awhile, Puja told her Teili and Jyp that she was going to go and see Master Windu. "Well, do you want us to go with you?" Teili asked Puja. Puja was about to reconsider, but instead decided to tell them, "Sure, can you please?" Puja asked them. Jyp was the one to talk this time, "Yeah, sure Puja, no problem, let’s go." They walked to Master Windu’s office together. They knocked on the door and Master Windu used the force to open it. "Why hello children, if it isn’t Puja, Teili and Jyp, what can I do for you?" Master Windu asked. "Actually Master Windu, first of all, I just wanted to say sorry for running out like that yesterday," Puja apologized. Master Windu looked and quickly could sense that she had accepted the offer of the foster parents. "It’s alright Puja, no apology needed, I completely understand how you felt, and by any chance, would this second thing you were going to say be about accepting the offer about the foster parents?" Master Windu asked her. Puja looked at him confused, "Well, yes, actually it is, how did you know?" Puja told him before realizing, of course, that he was a Jedi and quickly correcting herself, "Oh sorry, I guess I forgot," Puja apologized. "It’s not a problem Puja, but would you like to see them?" Master Windu asked her. "They’re here!! Sure, please!!!" Puja exclaimed. It looked like Master Windu was about to laugh, but he remained calm as he told her, "Well, follow me, you can come too Teili and Jyp." Teili and Jyp both replied, "Really? Sure, thanks," as they walked with Puja and Master Windu. Master Windu led them to the main entrance of the Jedi Temple. As Puja walked behind Master Windu, she could see two people, a man and a woman, perhaps a couple, waiting at the entrance. She wondered if they were her new foster parents. Master Windu suddenly stopped walking which made Puja almost bump into him as she was paying attention on the couple and completely lost her sense of her surroundings at that point. Master Windu turned to face Puja as he bent down on one knee to make eye level with her before saying, "Puja, are you ready to see your new parents?" Master Windu asked. Puja turned from all of a suddenly being excited to nervous. She gulped as she said, "Yes...Master Windu...I'm ready." He smiled at her as he got up and took her hand as they walked to her new parents with Teili and Jyp following close behind. Puja was starting to get nervous and scared at the same. As they reached the couple, she stepped behind Master Windu to hide herself from the seeing her. "Hello, well, you must be Owen and Beru Lars," Master Windu said. "Yes, we are, we've come to see the little girl that we adopted, is she here?" Owen replied. Master Windu smiled as he told the couple, "Yes, here she is...Puja, may I introduce you to your new parents, Mr. Owen Lars and his wife, Mrs. Beru Lars," Master Windu told Puja who was still hiding behind him. Owen and Beru must have misunderstood because Teili got all surprised when she finally figured out that the couple was talking to her. "Why hello, so your Puja? Your such a cute little girl," Owen said enthusiastically. "Mr. Owen, sir, I'm sorry, you must be mistaken, I'm not Puja, my friend is here," Teili said as she pointed next to her behind Master Windu. "Oh, well, I see..." Owen said as he finally understood and as Puja shyly walked out from behind Master Windu. "...hey, so you must be Puja, am I right?" Owen asked hoping he was. Puja looked shyly to the ground as she slowly brought eyes up to his, "Yes...I'm...P..P..Puja..." she said all nervously. Beru could see it, she bent down on her knees and put her hand on Puja's shoulder as she told her, "It's ok, I don't blame you for being nervous...you don't know us, but I can assure you, we will take care of you and love you, you hear me?" All of a suddenly, Puja started to feel a little bit better as she replied back, "Thank you Mrs. Beru, for understanding and taking care and loving me like I was your own." Beru looks deep into the five-year-old's eyes, as she tells her, "Why don't we get your stuff now, shall we? It's Teili, right..." Beru says as she gets up and takes Puja's hand and turns to Teili, "Yes, it is..." Teili replies. "...Well, then, why don't you two come up with us," Beru says as she holds out her hand for Teili to hold. Teili grabs Jyp's hand and Beru's hand and the four of them walk up to Puja's room to help her pack her stuff.
Chapter
7
As
Luke and Leia walk out of their rooms, Luke notices his aunt Beru walking up to
the third floor with three children. He quickly runs to her and Leia, after her
brother yell, also notices her aunt and follows her brother to her. "Aunt
Beru, how are you? What are you doing here?" Luke asks her. "Luke, is
that you? My, you're grown from the last time I've seen you," Beru tells
her nephew as she gives him a quick hug. "Yeah, aunt Beru..." Luke
says as he gives her a hug back, then breaks free to say, "...so, what are
you doing here?" "Oh, well, your uncle and I have adopted this little
girl," Beru told him as she brought Puja up in front her and put her hands
on her shoulders. "Luke, Leia, may I introduce you to Puja, your new
cousin," Beru introduces Puja. Luke kneels to make eye level with Puja as
he says, "Well, it's very nice to meet you, I like your name by the way,
it's very familiar," Luke smiles at her. Puja looked at him curiously
before replying, "Hello Luke...by any chance may I ask you, why is my name
so familiar with you?" Puja asked him. Luke just smiled, trying not show
any emotion, although he and Leia hardly knew there little sister that went
missing at birth, he certainly knew how his mother felt and is feeling now
about the little girl she lost, "Well Puja, you see, I once had a little
sister named Puja, she went missing when she was born, we came here to search
for her in hopes that we will find her. My mother is worried about her, that is
what made us start searching. She is about 5 years old now, about your age, but
anyways, I don't want cause you any grief, so I am very happy to be your
cousin, I'm sure you would have been a good cousin to my sister Puja..."
Luke said as he trailed off. Puja looked at him as she thought she was about to
cry, but tried to hold it back and replied, "I see, I'm sorry to have
brought that up Luke, I was just curious and thank you, I would have wished to
meet her, I'm sure you'll find her soon, I feel you will." Luke looked at
her adorable face before saying, "No apology needed Puja. Thank you Puja,
I do hope so for my mother's sake. She loves her too much." Puja hardly
new her new "cousin", but she thought giving him a hug might make him
feel better, so she put her arms around his neck and hugged him.
"Aww...thanks Puja...well, I think you better get going to pack, shouldn't
you?" Luke said as he hugged her back and finally broke of the hug.
"Yes, I think I should, goodbye Luke and Leia, it was good to talk to
you," Puja replied back as she took Beru's and Teili's hands and walked up
to her room to begin packing.
As
Luke and Leia see the four of them leave, Leia asks her brother, "Hey,
it's ok, we'll find her, I miss her a lot too, we all do...but right now, why
don't we tell mom and dad about Uncle Owen's and Aunt Beru's adoption?"
Luke looks at his sister and smiles as he put his arm around her and replies,
"Sure, let's go...race you there?" Luke laughs. "What?!?
Luke...wait, come here," Leia laughs as she tries to run to catch up with
her brother. "Don't you ever do that again...just remember I can whoop
your butt anytime, anyplace, anywhere," Leia says as she finally reaches
her brother at the their parent's room. Luke laughs at her, "Sure,
whatever, but just remember who the older one is...haha." "Oh, that's
the best you can do, you're only older by what is it? 1 minute?" Leia says
as she laughs as she opens the door after her parent's say it's ok. "Yeah,
well...it's true isn't it?" Luke mumbles in hesitation to only his sister
knowing very well that he was beat. Leia just gives him a smirk that tells him
to just give up and he did just that. Leia spoke first, "Hey Mom, Dad, we
have great new." Padme and Anakin stop what they were doing right away and
motioned for Luke and Leia to come sit down on the bed. "What is it Leia?
Luke?" Anakin asked curiously. Luke spoke this time, "Well, first
part is, Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru are, we just saw Aunt Beru." Anakin
looks at both of his children, "What?!? That's...that's great news, why
are they now?" Anakin finally says excitedly. "Wait Dad, that's not
all, but they were here because they just adopted this little girl, actually
Aunt Beru's with the little girl and her friends now helping her pack up her
things, isn't that cool?" Leia spoke this time. Anakin and Padme both
looked at each other before Anakin told his children, "It is...it is, when
are they leaving? We should all do something before they leave," Anakin
asked. Luke and Leia looked at each other before Leia spoke, " Actually,
we're not sure, we never brought that up, but we could go down and look for
Uncle Owen and ask him and then we'll tell him about all of us going out
together and doing something?" Anakin looked at his daughter before
saying, "Or, why don't you say, we all go down and talk to Uncle Owen?
Let's go...now!" Anakin said excitedly as he told them to follow him.
As
they walked down to the main floor of the Jedi Temple they see Owen and Beru at
the main entrance with the little girl packing her stuff in the ship as the
little girl cries as she says goodbye to her friends. Anakin yells,
"OWEN!!! Hey!!!" Owen turned over his shoulder to reveal Anakin
running to him. "Hey Anakin!!! How have you been doing," Owen smiled
at his stepbrother. "I'm doing alright, how are you? what are you doing
here?" Anakin smiled as he gave his stepbrother a hug. Owen gave a hug
back then broke free to say, "Well, Beru and I just adopted that little
girl right there. What do you think?" "Congratulations Owen!! What's
her name by any chance?" Anakin asked him. Owen kind of fidgeted at the
question as he knows what his stepbrother's reaction would be to the name. He sighed
before saying, "Well, Anakin...her name is...Puja..." Owen told as
his voice trailed off. Anakin looked down at the little girl who was saying her
goodbyes and then back at his stepbrother with a shocked expression on his
face. "You said P...P...Puja, right?" Anakin said hoping he
misinterpreted what Owen said. Owen couldn't say anything, he just nodded.
Before Anakin could say another word to Owen, Padme barged in and asked to
speak with Anakin alone. Padme and Anakin walked away from the group as she
told him, "Anakin, I may not be a Jedi and I may not be force sensitive,
but when one of my children is close I can feel it, and how come I can my Puja
nearby?" Padme asked with a tone of happiness and saddness. Anakin still
looked shocked from what Owen had told him, he couldn't believe it. Padme had a
confused look on her face as she asked her husband, "Anakin? Anakin,
what's wrong? Are you listening to me? Anakin?" "Padme, sorry...I was
just startled by what Owen told me, he said that the name of the little girl
that he and Beru adopted is Puja...and to answer your question, if my senses
are correct, I can sense her nearby as well...but where is she?" Padme had
a look of happiness as she heard the name. "Anakin, do...do you perhaps
think that the little girl that they adopted is really our Puja?" Padme
asked her husband without hestitation. Anakin looked at his wife and then
turned to the little girl hugging her friend and then back to Padme as he just
took her hand and ran quickly to the little girl who was still hugging her
friend. Padme finally realized what Anakin was going to do; He was going to ask
the little girl herself her full name.
He
kneeled down next to her and her friend as he asked her friend, "Hey, it's
Teili, right?" Anakin asked trying to remember from the time they first
met when the Skywalkers' got to the Jedi Temple. "Yes it is, can I help
you?" Teili asked considerately. Anakin just smiled at how cute she was
and said, "Uh...can just talk to your friend for just one second,
please?" "Sure, no problem," Teili told him as she walked to
stand next to Jyp. Anakin smiled at Teili and looked back at Puja. "Who
are you? Do I know you?" Puja asked confusingly. Anakin looked at her and
remembered even though if she was the lost Skywalker, theres is no way in doubt
that she wouldn't recognize him or Padme. "Well, Puja...ok, I don't mean
to put you on the spot saying this, but I...we..." Anakin said as he
looked up at Padme and she knelt down beside her husband, "...we wanted to
ask you something." Puja looked confident, not scared at all when she
spoke, "Sure, what is it?" Anakin looked at Padme then back at Puja,
"Um...Puja, do you by any chance know your full name? I'm sorry again, but
we need to know," Anakin asked the little girl in front of him. Puja
paused to think about the question, she didn't if she should tell them her full
name or not. She finally decided to give in, "Alright, my full name that
was given to me by my real mommy and daddy is Puja Naberrie Skywalker." As
Puja finished talking she looked around her and saw a lot of surprised faces,
including the ones in front of her. Puja asked confusingly, "Why is
everybody starring at me so strangely?" Padme was the one to speak this
time. In a voice so soft that only a mother would speak to her child with, she
cryed as she told Puja, "Well, Puja, we are all surprised because you are
the little girl that Anakin and myself have been looking for for a long time. I
know, you may not remember--" Puja interrupted as she finally understand
and said, "Mommy...is that really you mommy?" Padme started to cry as
she touched her daughters cheek before bringing her close to hug her. "Yes
sweetie, it's me, it's mommy." Puja then broke free to say, "Is it
true, you're really here, you're my daddy and mommy?" Puja said still with
disbelief as she almost let out a tear. Anakin spoke this time. "Yes
honey, it's us, we're here now; God, we've missed you so much, come here
kiddo," Anakin told her. Puja smiled and started to cry at the same time as
she ran into the arms' of her real parents. She didn't ever expect this moment
to end. She missed them too. She had doubted that they had stopped looking for
her, but they hadn't, they kept on looking for her and they found her. "I
love you mommy and daddy!!! I've missed you a lot!!!" Puja told them.
"I know honey, so have we...so have we..." Padme's voice trailed off.
"Mommy, Daddy, come here, I want you to see two special people!" Puja
said as she grabbed both of their hands and led them to Teili and Jyp.
"This Teili and Jyp; They're my best friends, we do everything together,
Jyp was in the same boat as me too; Daddy..." Puja asked her father as she
motioned him to come down. "Yes my princess," Anakin told her. She
giggled and told him in his ear, "Jyp doesn't have any parents either, he
was like me until you and mommy came just now, can you and mommy adopt
him?" she said as she ended it with a sad puppy face. Anakin looked at
Puja's puppy face before saying, "Well, my pup, we'll see, me and mommy
have to talk about that first, ok?" "Ok daddy," Puja replied.
Chapter
8
Later
that day, after Puja introduced Teili and Jyp and showed her parents her room
she spent the rest of the day with her family in her mother and father's room.
She told them how her life had been like without them. Every once in awhile
Luke would pick up Puja and give her a piggy back ride too. Puja loved it. She
was so happy now that she had her real mom and dad and sister and brother. As
they Skywalkers' were enjoying themselves, Obi-Wan came knocking on the door.
Puja was the one to get up. She ran to the door and asked for who it was first.
"Who is it?" Puja asked. The voice on the other side of the door
replied in a surprising tone, "This is Obi-Wan Kenobi and who might you be
little girl?" Puja glanced at her parents as if asking if she should tell
him and let him in. "It's ok kiddo, go ahead, tell him and let him
in," Anakin told him. Puja nodded and turned back to the door.
"This is Puja, come in," Puja said as she opened the door to see a
tall man hovering over her. Obi-Wan looked at the little girl who opened
the door. With a smile he said, "So, you're Puja..." "Yes,
Mister Obi-Wan sir, I'm Puja Naberrie Skywalker," Puja told him.
Obi-Wan looked at her with disbelief and then glanced in Padme's and Anakin's
position sending Anakin a message through the force. Anakin, it's her?
This is Puja? Anakin just nodded and Obi-Wan picked Puja up and held her
there for a moment. "How are you Puja? My, what a big girl you
are?" Obi-Wan told her happily. Anakin just looked at him and said
jokingly, "Hey, Obi-Wan, not yet, she's still our little girl, actually, I
don't think we want her to grow up..." Puja looked at him confused as she
said, "But daddy..." That's all she could say as she gave out a big
yawn and fell asleep on Obi-Wan's shoulder. Everyone in the room just
gave out a low awe. Padme got up from her side of the bed and walked over
to Obi-Wan and the sound asleep Puja. "Here Obi-Wan, I'll take her
now," Padme said as she took Puja into her arms. "Oh alright,
here you go," Obi-Wan said gently giving Puja to Padme. Padme walked
to her side of the bed as she gently settled Puja down on the bed for her to
sleep. As Puja slept quietly Padme lay next to her and gently stroked her
hair back and kissed the top of her forehead. All of a suddenly, there
was another knock on the door. Anakin opened it and found it was Teili
and Jyp. "Hey you guys, how are you?" Anakin said as he got
down on one knee. "We're fine, can Puja come with us to the playground
outside?" Teili asked. "Well...hmm...she's sleeping right
now," Anakin told them. Teili and Jyp looked at each other
before Jyp said, "Oh ok..."
