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Hi all! Welcome to the story! Just popping in to let you know that while this series will generally follow the storyline of the prequel movies(and beyond), they are not gonna be your typical Anakin fics.A while back I came up with my own Star Wars headcanon, and have been dying to write about it ever since. And now, finally, that day has come! I won't go into a lot of the finer details, but I wanted to lay out a few of the basics to keep you from getting super confused right off the bat._________________________So, this is an alternate version of the Star Wars universe in which several supernatural species exist. Those species are: Elves(Light and Dark), Demons, Fae(Light and Dark), Vampires, and Dragon Shifters.Each species has their own home planet: Zesh'ifra(Zuh-shee-fruh) for the Vampires, Inferril(En-fair-ill) for the Demons, Corikzkah(Core-icks-kuh) for the Dragon shifters, Foen(Fen) for the Fae(divided exactly in half for the Light And Dark Fae), and Soenek(Sin-ick) for the Elves(again, divided exactly in half for the Light and Dark Elves)The aspect of the universe that will have the largest influence in this series is in respect to the Light and Dark divisions for the Fae and Elves. Dark Elves and Fae are more strongly attuned to the dark side of the Force, whereas Light Elves and Fae are more strongly attuned to the light side of the Force.There have been rare occasions where a Dark Elf or Fae became a Jedi and a Light Elf or Fae became a Sith, but those only occured with many decades in between. The reason why you will occasionally have a Light Elf or Light Fae Sith and a Dark Elf or Dark Fae Jedi is mainly due to genetics, as both sides of the Elves and Fae cross-bred often in the distant past. This makes it so that every now and again, a Light Fae or Elf will birth a Dark Fae or Elf and vice versa.The same also goes for Dragon Shifters with darker or lighter dragon types, but the reasoning is different, as it depends entirely on their personality and which side they think would best suit their type-specific abilities.There can be stigmas surrounding these outliers, but it really just depends on the government at the time. Some have been hailed as heroes and fulfillers of prophecies, while others have been cast out and branded as unnatural.Of course, the Jedi welcome all Fae and Elves, no matter if they are Dark or Light. The Sith, however, are rather mistrusting of Light Fae and Elves, often judging them harshly until they either prove themselves or fade into obscurity.As far as appearance goes(aside from the obvious pointed ears), Dark Elves and Fae have skin in black or darker shades of grey, and their hair and eyes are darker colors as well. Conversely, Light Elves and Fae have skin in white or more natural shades, as well as lighter hair and eye colors. Some Elves and Fae, both Light and Dark, also have horns of various shapes and sizes; while others have veins of gold all over their bodies, giving their skin a marbled look. And some even have both._________________________Well, I think that's all you need to know for now. I'll leave notes at the end of a chapter if it has some unusual terms or pronunciations, but let me know if I miss any. If you have questions about anything please don't hesitate to ask, I'll be happy to answer. Now, enjoy the story!!
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The scorching suns of Tatooine blazed overhead, casting harsh shadows over the Mos Espa marketplace. The air was thick with the scent of sweat, dust, and desperation - the usual stench of bartering lives away.Draeyla Noctys stood still, her small frame rigid, hands curled into trembling fists at her sides. She was only six years old, but she already knew what was happening. The slaver gripping her upper arm had been speaking Huttese with the squat, winged creature in front of her - Watto, as his name seemed to be. She had learned to recognize the tone of voices in these transactions, no matter what language they were spoken in: cold, detached, final."She's an odd one," Watto grunted, rubbing his stubbled chin as his beady yellow eyes scanned her up and down. He took in her smooth charcoal black skin, pointed ears, white hair and glowing silver eyes. His wings fluttered lazily as he floated in place. "A Dark Elf, huh? Hmph. Not like the usual stock that comes through here.""She's got strong arms and will make a fine worker," the slaver said quickly. "And look at her - once she grows up, she'll fetch a high price if you ever want to resell."Draeyla's stomach twisted. She wanted to spit at them both, to run, or even fight - but she had already learned that none of those things would change her fate.Watto tilted his head, scrutinizing her. "What's wrong with her eyes?""She was born that way," the slaver said. "Some kind of freak accident. The people in her village didn't like it."Watto let out a wheezy chuckle. "Superstitious fools. Eh, fine. I'll take her."The slaver let go of her arm, and for a moment, she just stood there, uncertain. Was that it? No more arguments? No more pleading?"Go on, girl," Watto barked, motioning toward his shop. "You'll be living with my other slave and his mother. They'll keep you in line."She hesitated, then walked stiffly into the building he'd indicated, her head down. Her heart pounded in her chest, the weight of her captivity pressing down on her small shoulders.When she stepped inside the dimly lit shop, she heard a boy's voice."Who's that?"Draeyla looked up. A human boy no older than her, with messy blond hair and piercing blue eyes, stood behind the counter. His fingers were covered in grease and he held a tool in one hand, as if he had been fixing something before she walked in.Watto waved a dismissive hand. "New slave. She's yours and your mother's problem now."And with that, he was gone, leaving Draeyla standing awkwardly in the doorway.The boy studied her for a long moment, eyes narrowing slightly. Draeyla braced herself for what usually came next - the whispering, the staring, the mocking words about her glowing eyes or her mismatched appearance.Instead, he grinned. "Cool eyes."She blinked, startled."I'm Anakin." He wiped his hands on his tunic before sticking one out toward her. "What's your name?"Draeyla hesitated before cautiously taking his hand. "Draeyla." She mumbled."Come on," he said, tugging her forward. "I'll show you where we live. Mom's really nice. And don't worry about Watto - he mostly just yells a lot."Draeyla followed him, unsure what to make of this strange, bold boy who treated her like she wasn't broken. For the first time since she had been ripped from her home, something in her chest felt just a little bit lighter._________________________Anakin's mother, Shmi, was a kind woman with tied-back black hair and dark eyes that got sad whenever she thought no one was looking.As soon as Anakin brought Draeyla in and explained why she was there, Shmi immediately sat Draeyla down at the table and made sure she ate something."So how come you ended up a slave?" Anakin asked once she had finished, clearly unable to hold the question back any longer."Ani!" Shmi scolded. "You can't just pry into someone's past like that."Draeyla shook her head, offering a thin smile. "It's not something I like to talk about." She murmured. "Ask me again in a year or two and I might be comfortable enough to tell you then.""Okay." Anakin said, taking her at her word and not pushing the matter further.The sky outside was beginning to darken, so Shmi sent Anakin off to finish the last of his chores. Once he was gone, she turned to Draeyla with a tender look in her eyes."This may sound surprising, but you were really very fortunate to be sold to Watto. He may be rather cruel at times, but there are far worse people you could belong to on Tattooine than him. Just try not to anger him and he'll give you very little trouble. Anakin will help you however he's able, and he can show you how things work in the shop."Draeyla nodded, determined to take Shmi's advice to heart. This might not be the planet she was born on, but she felt more at home here than she ever had in all her six years of life and there was no way in hell she'd do anything to jeopardize that.Somewhere deep inside, Draeyla had a feeling that this was the start of something truly wonderful.
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Tattooine
Three years later
The twin suns of Tattooine hung low in the sky, casting an orange-red glow over the dusty streets of Mos Espa. Most of the market stalls were closing for the evening, the merchants packing up their wares; but in a quiet alley just beyond the main square, trouble was brewing.Nine-year-old Draeyla pressed herself against the sunbaked stone wall, breathing heavily. A group of children - four boys and two girls, all older than her - had chased and trapped her in the narrow passageway. Their eyes gleamed with cruel delight, their hands curled into fists."She's not even a real Dark Elf," sneered one of the older boys, a lanky kid with a twisted lip. "Look at her weird hair and eyes.""Maybe she's cursed," one of the girls whispered. "I heard Dark Elves don't have white hair. Maybe she's some kind of monster."Draeyla swallowed, her fists clenched at her sides. She had learned long ago not to show fear - it only made bullies bolder. "I'm not a monster," she said, her voice steady despite the pounding of her heart.The lanky boy laughed. "Says the freak." Then he lunged.Before he could reach her, something crashed into him from the side and knocked him to the ground.Draeyla saw a flash of blond hair and a dust-covered tunic, and she felt her heart swell.Anakin.He landed hard on top of the boy, fist already swinging, catching him square in the nose. The other kids froze in shock for only a second before they jumped into the fray.Draeyla barely had time to react before chaos erupted.A girl yanked Anakin back by his shirt, but he twisted and elbowed her in the ribs. Another boy tackled him, sending both of them sprawling into the sand. A boot lashed out and caught Anakin in the side, but he rolled with it, kicking one of them square in the knee.Draeyla's breath caught in her throat. There were too many of them.But Anakin wasn't giving up.He fought like a cornered womp rat - fast, unpredictable, and utterly relentless. Even as fists slammed into his face and someone yanked at his arm hard enough to bruise, he didn't stop. One of the kids - a stocky boy with thick arms - managed to pin him down for a moment, but Anakin threw his head forward, smashing it into the boy's nose with a sickening crack.Draeyla flinched.The other kids hesitated.The stocky boy fell back, clutching his face. The others exchanged nervous glances as they panted, sweat dripping down their faces.Anakin staggered to his feet, bruised and bloodied but still standing. His blue eyes burned like twin flames. "You want to fight?" he growled. "Come on, then."None of them moved.The lanky boy - his face red and nose still bleeding - spat at the ground. "Not worth it," he muttered, wiping at his face. He shot Draeyla a glare before turning to the other kids. "Come on."One by one, they retreated, grumbling under their breath.Anakin let out a shaky breath before wiping the back of his hand across the bleeding split in his lower lip. Then he turned to Draeyla."You okay?"She stared at him, stunned. His face was bruised, his knuckles scraped raw, and a cut on his forehead dripped blood into his eyebrow.And yet he stood there, grinning like he hadn't just fought off six older kids all by himself.Something clenched in Draeyla's chest."You're an idiot," she muttered, but her tone was teasing.Anakin shrugged. "Yeah, but I'm your idiot."Draeyla huffed, shaking her head as she walked over to him. "Come on," she sighed, grabbing his arm. "Let's get you cleaned up before your mom sees you like this."She didn't say thank you. She didn't have to.Anakin just grinned again and let her drag him home._________________________
The next day
Tattooine's midday suns were merciless, beating down upon the dusty streets of Mos Espa. Anakin wiped the sweat from his brow, glancing toward the sky. The air was dry and thick, carrying the scent of sand, oil, and overheating machinery. Another long day at Watto's shop.Draeyla sat nearby, perched atop a crate with her knees pulled up to her chest. Her white hair, despite being tied back, still caught the light in a way that made her stand out even in the crowded marketplace. She had long since learned to ignore the stares. Right now, she was more focused on fixing a small mechanical device - an old comlink Anakin had salvaged from the junk pile.Anakin turned back toward the entrance of the shop, watching the bustling streets. That was when he saw them.Three strangers, walking cautiously through the market.The first was a tall human man with long brown hair and a beard, his face calm but sharp, and he seemed to be constantly assessing his surroundings. His brown tunic and boots looked worn but sturdy, and there was something about him felt... different.The second was a Dragon Shifter girl - older than Anakin and Draeyla by at least four years. The brown horns curling and twisting up from the darker brown of her hair gave her a regal bearing, and her emerald eyes were filled with curiosity. A few patches of green scales could be seen: one above her right eye that was cut through by her eyebrow, another just below her left eye, and a third over her left collarbone peeking out from the collar of her shirt. The rest were likely hidden by her clothes. She wasn't dressed like the usual travelers or traders; her clothes were simple but there was something about her posture, the way she carried herself, that felt important.And then there was the third one.Draeyla blinked. "What in the hells is that?"The clumsy-looking creature stumbled behind the other two, nearly tripping over both his own feet and the astromech droid that rolled along beside him as he gawked at everything around him. His long ears flopped with each exaggerated movement, and his large amphibian eyes were wide with wonder.Anakin smirked. "I dunno, but I bet he's never seen a place like this before."The trio moved toward the shop, their voices becoming clearer."I'm telling you, this heat is gonna be the death of meesa!" the creature whined."Try not to draw any attention, Jar Jar," the tall man said, his voice patient but firm.Anakin and Draeyla exchanged a look. Too late for that.As the strangers stepped inside, Watto flapped his wings and floated over, his beady eyes narrowing with interest. "Ahh, what can I do for you, huh?" he rasped in his usual gruff voice.The tall man, whom Anakin assumed was the leader, stepped forward. "I'm looking for parts for a J-type 327 Nubian starship," he said evenly.Watto's wings buzzed as he rubbed his hands together. "Ahh, Nubian, you say? We got lots of parts for that! But they're not cheap." His greedy eyes gleamed. "What's your offer, eh?"Anakin barely listened to the conversation. He was more focused on the Shifter girl.She had noticed him staring, and now she was looking at him, the expression on her tan face unreadable. Anakin felt a little embarrassed but didn't look away.Then her gaze flickered past him, toward Draeyla.It wasn't the usual stare of confusion or judgment that Draeyla often got from strangers. Instead, there was curiosity - maybe even a little intrigue.Draeyla noticed too. She met the older girl's gaze, her silver eyes unblinking.Anakin decided to break the silence."You're a traveler, huh?" he said, stepping forward.The girl turned back to him, surprised by his confidence. "I suppose you could say that.""I'm Anakin," he introduced himself proudly. Then he gestured toward Draeyla. "And this is Draeyla."The girl smiled, just a little, giving them a flash of slightly elongated canines. "Padmé."The clumsy creature - Jar Jar - suddenly shuffled over, his large eyes blinking. "Ooooh, dis place muy dusty," he muttered before looking down at them. "Heyo! Yousa kids work here?"Draeyla raised an eyebrow. "Yeah," she said dryly. "We're slaves."Jar Jar's eyes widened, and he looked utterly horrified, as if he had just heard the worst news of his life. "Ohhh, dat's terrible! Meesa so sorry!"The tall man, who had been talking to Watto, now turned his attention to them. His gaze lingered on Anakin, then Draeyla. There was something in his expression that Anakin couldn't place - maybe intrigue?"What's your name?" the man asked.Anakin straightened a little. "Anakin Skywalker."The man nodded before looking at Draeyla. "And you?"She hesitated for a moment before answering. "Draeyla Noctys."The man studied them for a few seconds longer before finally offering a small nod. "I am Qui-Gon Jinn."A strange feeling settled in Anakin's chest. He didn't know why, but something about this moment - meeting this man, this traveler - felt important.Like a start to something much bigger than he could imagine.