I do not own Star Wars, it belongs to Disney and its creator George Lucas

"Speech"

"Alien Language"

-Telepathic Communication-

The trip to Coruscant wasn't particularly long but it was very pleasant, much more so than any other trip he had been on. As for his mother and brother it was an amazing new experience for them since this was their first time leaving Tatooine in years, as free beings no less.

However, he couldn't help but occasionally rub at his thigh where his slave transmitter once was. It had been in for so long it would take a while for him to get used to it being gone. It had been like an itch he couldn't scratch and had been forced to get used to.

In the time he was on the ship Auron had gotten to know just about everyone aboard from the pilots, to the security guards, the handmaidens, and the Queen in varying degrees.

While on their way to Coruscant, Qui-Gon had taken it upon himself to test his and Anakin's ability to use the Force along with teaching them what the Jedi stood for.

While there wasn't a whole lot of information about the Jedi on the Holonet, Auron had researched them as much as he could when he suspected he could wield the Force like them. The little he had learned unfortunately had pertained to the Jedi's societal norms and not so much to their techniques in using Force, not that he had expected to find much of anything even with his slightly above average splicing skills.

However, Qui-Gon was now making up for his lack of knowledge by teaching him and Anakin things about the Jedi Order, their Code, and some of the most basic Force techniques that all younglings first learned. Unsurprisingly, he found almost all of them extremely easy, having long attempted and succeeded at them. Anakin struggled at first but was getting the hang of the exercises almost as quickly as he had.

The exercise Anakin struggled most with was meditation, which considering his daily energy levels, wasn't surprising. Ani wasn't exactly one to sit still and do nothing but concentrate on feeling the Force while stuck in a meditative pose.

As for him, there wasn't really any challenge in the exercises. It was nothing he hadn't tried and already explored to its limits. Though he took note of the special attention Qui-Gon paid to their progress in these exercises.

While Auron was flattered that Qui-Gon believed they should be Jedi, he wasn't sure he should be one, or that he even wanted to. Becoming a Jedi had always been Anakin's dream; albeit a dream that they had both formerly acknowledged as being just a dream. Something that was unlikely to come true. Now in just two days the impossible had come true for him and his family.

Auron could only hope the rug wouldn't get pulled out from under them to balance the good fortune they were suddenly experiencing.

The only other thing of note on the trip was Qui-Gon's apprentice: Obi-Wan Kenobi. Auron had to admit that hearing his name had caused him quite a bit of inward amusement since the name was so similar to his master's, at least in spelling. He had at first thought they might be father and son till he saw there was no resemblance whatsoever between them. Yet, it was apparent to anyone even with few observational skills that they treated one another like father and son, if a bit distantly.

He couldn't help but fill a pang of longing watching them, and through his bond he noticed Anakin felt the same way.

Though he had long ago come to terms with the fact he didn't have a father, it never stopped him or Ani from wanting one. He often found himself jealous of the slaves who were able to have their mother and their father with them. He couldn't explain why he wanted such a thing so badly, just that it felt like something was missing, that there was an emptiness unfilled.

However, focusing back on Kenobi, Auron found him to be fascinating. He didn't think he'd ever met someone like him who was so calm, patient, charming, funny or kind; especially not at his age or gender. He was a wizard guy, the kind of guy you just wanted to hang out with. Despite the wariness he sensed from Kenobi about him and his brother, he didn't' seem to let his feelings affect how he treated them and Auron appreciated that.

In the hour before they reached Courscant Auron spent his time in the cargo hold going through the box of valuables he'd brought with him from his family's little hovel. All their credits were removed from the box and put into a suitcase he managed to acquire from the handmaidens since the box was no longer big enough to fit them all into.

It was a fact Auron was not at all sad about. Those extra credits would make it easier for them to find a home in a good place and allow them to stay somewhere nice on Coruscant till they figured out where they wanted to live. Even though he'd never been to the planet before, there were few people in the galaxy that didn't know about the planet's infamous lower levels. No way was he or any of his family going to be stuck in those hellish places.

Rummaging through the large metallic box Auron first came across the most sentimentally valuable things in the box. There was an even smaller box which contained all of his and Anakin's baby teeth, a couple of holopics they'd managed to get taken of them, a dozen or so flimsi cards and trinkets that the Skywalker boys had given to their mother as lifeday gifts.

Also included were other miscellaneous items such as the slave transmitter locator he and Ani had been working on, pieces of slightly expensive jewelry (both won and stolen), the schematics to several inventions he had thought up, both complete and incomplete, and various bits of expensive technology that he'd acquired to help aide him in building the inventions; the kind of tech he definitely couldn't leave out for his master to find.

However, the real prizes, monetarily speaking, were hidden underneath everything else in a false bottom. His mother and brother thought it was the metal of the box that made it so heavy, but it was really what was inside it. Auron checked once again to make sure that he was alone. Satisfied he lifted up the false bottom to reveal the hidden treasures.

They all gleamed under the artificial lighting in the cargo hold, casting light around in various different ways and shades of colors. Auron allowed himself to be enraptured by their glow before reaching in and grabbing one of the items.

It, just like the rest of the items were Krayt dragon pearls. The one in his hand was black and about the size of his thumb. Like each pearl, it was lustrous with a refractive quality and came from the stomach of a krayt dragon, used to crush the food eaten by them. The other four pearls were various different colors and sizes. Three were the size of his hand, one white and the other two blue, while the last was roughly the size of his head and turquoise in color.

These types of pearls are considered extremely valuable, worth hundreds of thousands of credits. Not to mention the fact they could only be obtained by slaying a krayt dragon.

Even now he shuddered at the thought of Gardulla or Watto having found out the treasures he hid from them right under their noses. In many people's eyes Krayt dragon pearls were priceless. It was this reason alone that had made it so hard for him to resist trying to find someone to sell them to while on Tatooine.

As a slave he really owned nothing without the approval (or lack thereof) of his master. While he could have bartered with any one of them for his freedom with the pearls, the most likely outcome would have been them just taking them without giving him anything in return because frankly as his master they could do that. It was one of those things about being a slave that never failed to make him instantly furious, especially considering how he had come by the pearls in the first place.

These pearls had been hard won with him almost losing his life in the process. It was one of the few things he had kept secret from his mother, not wanting to cause her undue grief by having to inform her of the way he had acquired the pearls. He was the only one aware of the fact that he had them in his possession. Not even Anakin knew.

As soon as the opportunity arose on Coruscant he was going to sell one of these pearls for as much money as he could get. With the money they currently had and the additional money they would get from the selling of the pearl, they would be able to live just about anywhere with enough money left over to even buy a speeder or starship.

The only problem with the plan he knew would be having to explain to his mother how he came about such a large sum of money, and honestly he wasn't too keen on lying to her. Hopefully she either wouldn't ask questions or would eventually forgive him for keeping the truth from her.

The sound of static momentarily filled the cargo bay until: "Please be advised we will be coming out of hyperspace in approximately three minutes. Repeat we will be exiting hyperspace in three minutes. Please be sure to be strapped in by that time.

Auron hurriedly but carefully put everything back into the box, locking it once he was done. Stuffing the box into a backpack, he slung it over his shoulder and proceeded to the sitting area.

In just three minutes he would be on Coruscant where he and his family's new life would begin. He had no idea what he would do with his life now that his dream of freeing his family had come true, but he looked forward to facing the future as a free being.

If he could only describe what he was seeing with one word, it would be: Wizard! Anakin couldn't quite believe the sight his eyes were seeing as he looked upon the surface of the world of Coruscant from the cockpit of the starship he was currently on.

The entire planet was glowing with light, with very few places bereft of it. The only planet in the entire galaxy that was one giant city, with little to no organic material left of what was once there originally.

Even though he knew everything he was seeing was real, Anakin couldn't help but feel like he was asleep, stuck in a really good dream. Not only were he and his family free, away from Tatooine going to Corucant, the capital of the Republic, but there was also the chance that he could become a Jedi. It was all more than he had ever hoped for. Not to mention the fact that he had helped make it happen.

Before Qui-Gon and Padme had come along he had felt somewhat useless compared to his mother and brother's efforts in freeing them. Yes, he had fixed things for extra money on the side but there weren't near enough people who needed things fixed to really make any credits. Then add to that the fact that his career as a podracer had been laughingly pathetic.

Yet, that had all changed two days ago with the arrival of a Jedi Master, handmaiden, Gungan and a pair of droids. He'd meet a Jedi and an interesting girl, finished building his podracer, won his first race in said podracer, beat that sleemo Sebulba, and helped earn enough credits to help buy his family's freedom.

Now here they were on the Queen of Naboo's starship about to land on Corucant. Things were finally looking up in his life.

Anakin watched with rapt attention as the pilot, Ric Ollie, talked to air control about getting permission to land at one of the areas designated for senators' ships. After expertly weaving through Corscanti traffic, the ship landed smoothly on the landing platform.

Leaving the cockpit behind Anakin went to exit the ship where he found his mother and brother waiting with their stuff. Auron grinned while handing him one of the backpacks on his shoulder. Anakin returned the grin as he took the bag. He could feel his brother's excitement as surely as he felt his own thrumming through their bond.

As the landing ramp opened the first thing he saw were two men dressed in regal looking robes accompanied by a sizable group of guards. Before he could get a good look at them he was walking down the ramp while immediately moving off to the side with his family as the Jedi, Captain Panaka, Jar-Jar, and then the Queen and her retinue exited the ship.

He watched curiously as the Jedi, Jar-Jar and Captain Panaka bowed to the two men before stepping aside for the Queen. She was first addressed by the shorter of the two men who had light red hair and had a face like a kindly old grandfather which right now was full of relief.

"It is a great gift to see you alive, your Majesty. With the communications breakdown, we had been very concerned. I'm anxious to hear your report on the situation." He then turned slightly to face the other gentlemen. "May I present, Supreme Chancellor Valorum."

Anakin's eyes widened as disbelief coursed through him. Whoa! He was in the presence of not only a Queen but the leader of the entire Republic! How many other people got a chance to see the Supreme Chancellor up close?

Valorum was a tall man with short cropped grey hair who had stern features which were currently softened with concern. He had a commanding presence about him that made it all too clear he was the leader here.

He listened with rapt attention as the Chancellor greeted the Queen and they started talking about Senate politics while walking towards the waiting shuttles. He and his family followed a short distance behind them and everyone else.

However, just as they were about to board the transport Anakin stopped to look at Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan who appeared to be going somewhere else. He noticed his brother also stopped alongside him.

"Master Qui-Gon, Sir?" he called out in question.

Qui-Gon motioned toward the transport with the others. "Go ahead Anakin, there's some business Obi-Wan and I need to take care of with the Council. I'll come and collect you and your brother to meet them once it's finished."

Anakin nodded in acceptance though he saw Auron frown out of the corner of his eye. They were the last to board the transport before it took off for its destination, wherever that was.

He looked over to his left to see his mother with a bright and awed look on her face as she took in the sights around them. It was one of the rare times where she didn't look tired or worn out by a day's hard work. Hopefully she would never look like that again now that they were free. His mother deserved to do what she wanted and be happy.

Anakin turned to the right towards his brother and was alarmed to note he looked slightly sick. He was puzzled by what could be causing such a thing, as he knew for certain that his brother wasn't afraid of heights or had motion sickness.

"Auon? What's wrong?" he whisper yelled over the high wind and the others talking, trying not to alert his mother.

Auron shook his head. "Nothing. Just a weird feeling I'm getting. I'm sure it'll pass soon."

Anakin was unconvinced but he let it slide. It was impossible to pry answers out of Auron unless he was willing to give them to you. Otherwise you were just wasting your time, and he wasn't near as skilled as Auron in using their mental connection to search out the answer. Plus they had come to the agreement a while ago to never do that to each other unless absolutely necessary.

The ride to their destination ended way too quickly for Anakin's liking as they reached a huge and impressive looking skyscraper. They all quickly exited the transport entering onto a lavish floor of the building that belonged entirely to the royalty of Naboo.

While the Queen, Palpatine, Captain Panaka and some of her handmaidens went off into an office to talk, Anakin, Auron and Shmi were taken to a set of rooms set aside for guests.

The room given to them were as extravagant as Anakin expected they would be. Everything looked so fine and expensive. This was definitely the nicest place he'd ever stayed in. The first thing he did was jump and flop down on a bed, and man was it nice and soft. He could really get used to sleeping on a bed like this.

"Ani!" scolded Shmi. "You should be more careful. We don't want to break or ruin anything in here. The Queen was nice enough to put us up while she's here. It wouldn't do to make her regret that decision."

Reluctantly Anakin slid off the bed, belatedly realizing he hadn't even taken his shoes off before he jumped on it. "Sorry mom. I just got so excited. This place is so amazing! I mean look at! We've never been somewhere so nice before that was just for us to use."

"It's alright, I can understand the feeling," she said with a smile.

Auron coughed, getting their attention. "I hate to bring it up but we're going to need to find a place to permanently settle down in. Though the Queen didn't give a deadline of any sort, our welcome will eventually run out."

Shmi sighed. "Too true my son. After all, allowing us to travel with them free of charge to Coruscant was more than generous. Yet, I'm not even sure where we should start looking. This is the first time I—I mean 'we' have been completely on our own."

"Wait, so we're going to live on Coruscant?" asked Anakin. The thought of living on such an amazing planet excited him.

"That would pretty expensive. At least if we want to live somewhere safe, which we do, we'd need to work on at least securing jobs before picking a place. The money we have can carry us for a long time but it would be better not to use it all up if we don't have to."

"So, I guess we start looking for jobs and places to stay?" suggested Auron.

Shmi nodded saying, "Yes that would be best. Though we'll need a datapad with a map of the surrounding area and directions on how to get back here so we don't get lost."

"I'm on it! I'll ask one of the handmaidens for help so we can get started right now!" Anakin moved hurriedly toward the door hoping one of the handmaidens would indeed help him. He really wanted to see more of the planet and he wasn't sure if he would get to do that if the Jedi came back and said he was accepted into their Temple.

Fifteen minutes later he returned to the room with the datapad, complete with the information they needed. After letting security know where they were going they were off to explore the Jewel of the Core Worlds.

A/N: Hello, I'm back from the dead! Sorry for the long wait but school and my own procrastination got in the way. I'm doing my best now to catch up on all my stories. Hopefully I can continue to that even though school is back in full swing.

I know a lot doesn't happen in this chapter but I have been working on it for long I just wanted to get it out. The next chapter will have more going on.

Anyway, until next time remember to review, favorite and follow if you like my story. And thank you to those that already have.