One common theme is her relationship with Anakin. Writers often explore how she raised him and the values she instilled in him. For example, stories might show how her love and selflessness influenced Anakin's early years.
A fanfiction could center around Shmi's relationship with the other slaves on Tatooine. She could be shown as a source of hope and strength for them. She might be involved in some sort of slave - led resistance movement, using her wits and kindness to rally others. This would give a different perspective on the often - overlooked Tatooine slave community in the Star Wars universe.
A fanfiction could also be about Shmi's dreams and hopes for Anakin. It could show her thoughts as she watched him grow, knowing he was special. For example, she might have had visions of his future in the Jedi Order and the great things he could do, but also feared for him because of the dark side she sensed was a threat.
You can try fanfiction websites like Archive of Our Own (AO3). There are many talented writers who create fanfiction about Shmi Skywalker. Just search for 'Shmi Skywalker' in the search bar, and you'll get a list of relevant stories. Some might focus on her early life on Tatooine, while others could explore her relationship with Anakin in more depth.
In the fanfiction, Shmi could be the key to unlocking a hidden prophecy about Anakin. Maybe there were ancient texts on Tatooine that only she could understand, and these texts revealed the true nature of Anakin as the 'Son of Suns' and his role in the galaxy. She then has to find a way to pass this knowledge on to the right people before it's too late.
Explore her past in detail. Maybe she has a connection to an ancient Jedi or Sith that has been long forgotten. This could add depth to her character and make her more than just a side character in the Star Wars lore. For instance, she could have inherited an ancient artifact that holds great power, and she's been protecting it all her life.
Anakin would be less desperate. In the original, the fear of losing his mother and then his wife drove him towards the dark side. With Shmi alive, he would have a strong emotional anchor that could keep him more stable and less likely to be swayed by Palpatine's manipulations.
Anakin's journey from Jedi to Sith and back again gives him a complex perspective. Other viewers might just see the battles as entertainment, but Anakin would likely see them through the lens of his own struggles with power, loyalty, and redemption. So, when watching the fanfiction, he could be constantly comparing the battles and characters to his own past actions and relationships, which is very different from the average viewer's more detached perspective.
Perhaps Anakin would find the fanfiction to be an interesting diversion from his own experiences. He might see characters in the Death Battle fanfiction with powers similar to his own and compare their uses of power. For example, if there were a character with a lightsaber - like weapon, he'd analyze how they fought compared to his Jedi training. He could also be intrigued by new and strange powers that don't exist in his world.
Some fanfics might explore Anakin's death as a result of his internal struggle. He has always been torn between the light and the dark side. Maybe in the fanfic, the dark side finally consumes him completely, but in that moment of total darkness, he realizes his mistake and sacrifices himself to stop the spread of evil that he has unknowingly helped create. This could be a very poignant and complex way to end his story, showing his journey full circle from a hopeful Jedi to a fallen Sith and back to a redeemed hero in his death.