Chapter 43

In Anakin's memory, there had never been a better day on Tatooine. Despite the scorching twin suns still blazing in the sky, they did not burn his skin, and the gentle breeze kept the usual uncomfortable dust at bay. He quickly made his way through the crowded streets and alleys of Mos Espa.

No longer did he have to fear those vicious interstellar smugglers.

Only when the fresh morning air hit his face did he realize that everything was free; he was far from Watto and his little shop, far from the painful past.

Only when he passed the layers of simple houses outside Mos Espa did he slow his pace, looking at them with a touch of sadness; all his friends were there, and they were all slaves. Sometimes, when an inevitable fate struck, he could only look at the place with sorrow.

Just like a long time ago, when a little girl named 'Ami' and her mother were there.

Soon, Anakin quickened his pace, sprinting towards his home. Shmi was waiting outside the door, her hair tied back with some silver metal ornaments, adding a touch of color to her usually plain appearance. She smiled beautifully today.

"Anakin, slow down!" she said with a laugh, "There's no need to be in such a hurry about moving."

"But I'm worried about you!" Anakin looked at her seriously, his eyes filled with an indescribable fear.

Shmi's heart ached. She pressed his head to her chest and whispered, "It's okay, everything is over." Shmi clearly felt his fear; life on Tatooine was not as carefree as it seemed. Since Anakin became conscious, he had a deep-seated fear.

It was the fear of being separated, and his attachment to her.

This fear reached its peak when he was seven, and they almost lost each other.

"It's okay, Anakin. You have the courage to protect me, don't you?" Shmi caressed his face gently and said, "Go buy some fruit! I heard your teacher has guests."

"Okay! Two Jedi Knights, with lightsabers on their belts, you know, the kind you know about." Anakin's eyes were filled with anticipation as he leaped out of her embrace, "I'll be right back."

He ran off, light and swift like a young deer. Whenever he encountered troublemakers and mercenaries, he would show the hilt of his lightsaber, which kept anyone from stopping him.

"I need to protect myself and my mother." Anakin remembered what he told Chen Ang a few weeks ago, "My strength will protect those I cherish and do what is right."

"You're doing well," Chen Ang praised him, followed by a brutal beating, "But you need real power, and of course, wisdom. Otherwise, you wouldn't be so foolish as to say these things now!"

Anakin remembered being hit to the ground, powerless to resist. Chen Ang, holding a wooden sword, said to him, "The greater your ability, the greater your responsibility. Your sense of responsibility is so great, so you must desperately need power. Now, get up and practice this sword technique three hundred times!"

This training was not in vain. At least now, Anakin was fierce enough to scare off those troublemakers, and his lightsaber was sharp enough.

But Chen Ang told him, "You lack the killing intent."

Anakin asked him how to have killing intent, and Chen Ang replied, "When you have a helpless fear and sorrow in your heart, and an anger that makes you wield your sword for love, you will naturally have it. You are not indecisive; you just lack some experiences."

"Some experiences that will make you firmly pick up your sword."

Anakin quickly took the sweet fruit from an old woman, then suddenly heard a noisy commotion behind him, even the sound of a woman crying.

"What's happening?" Anakin asked, a vague sense of unease in his heart, as if a scene from three years ago was repeating itself.

"Slave hunt," the old woman hurriedly packing up her stall told him, "Find a place to hide quickly. The damn space pirates are back. They have guns and inhibitors, and they can take anyone they want. Many people have been taken this way, and their families never heard from them again."

Anakin ran off, fast as a leopard, heading quickly towards his home. Along the way, he saw many scenes of suffering, but the usually helpful boy did not dare to stop. An indescribable fear gripped his heart.

Just around the corner from his home, he saw something that made his heart shatter: a small silver hairpin that had been in his mother's hair just moments ago.

"No!!!" Anakin shouted, his vision blurring. He rushed to the cozy little home, frantically searching everywhere. Everything seemed intact, but one warm presence, his most precious thing, was gone without a trace.

"Mom..." he couldn't help but call out, his anger rising as he raised the hilt of his lightsaber and shouted at the door.

"Run, Anakin! Your mother was taken by Jabba's men. Go find someone to save her!" his neighbor, Titi Krawnel, shouted from the door.

A tall, fierce creature suddenly grabbed her hair and threw her to the ground, "Look! I found a straggler. Ha ha!"

It had a cruel smile on its face, carrying a menacing alloy knife, and walked towards Anakin.

Anakin's eyes were icy cold, making it uneasy. He trembled as he raised the hilt of his sword, his heart filled with uncontrollable anger and regret, "When you have a helpless fear and sorrow in your heart, and an anger that makes you wield your sword for love, you will know what to do."

Chen Ang's words snapped the last string in his mind. The hot lightsaber in his hand swung with unprecedented decisiveness. He remembered Chen Ang's teachings and struck the weakest point of the alloy knife with his lightsaber.

Using shock and energy, he forced it to reveal a weakness, then launched a storm of attacks. The lightsaber, carrying Anakin's roar, sliced through its limbs.

The scorching energy ravaged its body. Anakin lifted it, holding it in his hand, an alloy claw stopping in front of his eye, "Where did you take my mother?"

The pirate howled in pain without answering, then received even more terrible treatment. The intense pain made it suddenly clear-headed, "They went to the gate!" it screamed.

Anakin threw its body aside, swung his lightsaber with his right hand, and cut off its head. He gave a regretful look to Titi Krawnel, seeing her stand up despite her pain, before rushing towards the city gate.

Tears streamed down his face. She might be gone forever, injured, or even dead, and these terrifying thoughts were unbearable. He could only grip his lightsaber tighter.

Until he saw that shadow, that warm and familiar figure, surrounded by a crowd, pushed roughly by a mercenary. For a moment, Anakin saw clear fear on her face, which shocked him into immobility.

He had never seen his mother afraid. To him, she was always a symbol of calm. In that moment, she revealed a lifetime of fear to him.

When she saw him, the疯狂的神色立刻从她眼中消失，只留下深深的担忧和心疼，“快走！”她无声地给他做了一个口型。

But Anakin did not listen to her this time. He drew his lightsaber, moving closer to the group of pirates, wrapped in the crowd. Shmi's worry deepened, her anxiety almost spilling over her brows. She desperately signaled to him, but could only watch helplessly as he approached the crowd step by step.

Shmi suddenly closed her eyes and charged at the pirates, attacking them fiercely.

"No!" Anakin shouted, unable to watch her sacrifice herself.

A large hand pressed on his shoulder, and a familiar voice whispered in his ear, "I taught you that the greater your ability, the greater your responsibility. It seems you haven't taken it to heart!"

The stern voice and suppressed anger did not frighten Anakin. Overwhelmed with joy, he grabbed the large hand and pleaded, "Teacher, save her!"

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