AN: Hey guys! So this is a new story that I've been playing with for a while. Don't worry, I'm still working on Charmed Anew, but this was an idea that I just couldn't get out of my head. It takes place about sixteen years after Revenge of the Sith, except this is an AU so Episode III didn't end exactly like it did in canon. For this story, I'm planning on taking ideas from both canon and legends, whatever I feel makes the most sense with the story. Everything in Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, and the Clone Wars still happened, and everything in Revenge of the Sith remains the same except for the ending which you'll find out later. Anyway, hope you enjoy! Fav/follow/comment!
All properties belong to Lucasfilm
Chapter 1
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away…
Naboo was quiet.
It always had been, ever since she was a child. A small planet, always trying to avoid trouble.
Aside from the dispute with the Trade Federation almost thirty years before, it remained peaceful and silent.
Who would have ever thought that such a beautiful planet could produce such a horrid monster that would destroy everything she worked so hard to preserve?
Growing up, the planet was always home, somewhere safe that she could always return to, to escape the stress of politics and war. The place where her family resided, and her heart with them.
As she stood on the balcony of her lake retreat, she closed her eyes and thought of faraway memories that now seemed so distant, she'd have thought they were myth had she not actually lived them. She reached her hand out and pretended that it wasn't air she was touching, but robes. Robes that were worn by a sandy haired boy with crystal blue eyes and the piercing smile that always made her stomach flip.
Padme' sighed and pulled her hand back to her side, and reminded herself that those memories were of another lifetime, another person.
Looking back at the view of the lake one last time, she turned to go back inside.
Upon entering the doorway, she found Sabe' inside, just having entered to help her get ready as she did every morning.
"Good morning Milady," Sabe' greeted her. "Did you sleep well?"
"As well as always," Padme' said and gave her a small smile as she went to take a seat at her vanity, to let Sabe' do her hair.
As Sabe' ran her fingers through her long dark curls, Padme' took the time to realize just how precious Sabe' was to her. While she had dismissed most of her old handmaidens when she came back to Naboo, to allow them to stay with their families, Sabe' had insisted on coming with her.
"Let's be honest," she had told Padme', "you know you won't survive without me."
While Padme' knew she had intended it as a joke, she also knew that it was completely true. She couldn't have survived the last few years of her life without Sabe'. She had been a true friend to her, more loyal to her then even her own children.
Padme' inwardly flinched as the thought of her children came to her mind. The last time she had seen them was their fourteenth life-day, and two years had passed since then. While she heard from Luke often, as he tried to send her monthly holograms, Leia wasn't as eager to contact her mother. And the rejection hurt Padme' more then she cared to admit.
After Padme' was ready for the day, her and Sabe' went down to the dining room to have breakfast.
"The Queen is supposed to be having a banquet next week, to celebrate the return of the Imperial Ambassador, Sabe' informed her casually. I'm sure that'll you'll receive an invitation.
"I'm sure I will," Padme' responded as a servant set a bowl of porridge in front of her. "The Queen will invite us as she always does out of politeness, and we will politely decline, as we always do."
Sabe' sighed.
"Padme'", she said seriously, looking at her old friend from across the table. "You can't keep yourself locked up here, it's not healthy."
'I can't be involved Sabe', you know that," Padme' told her just as seriously. "I won't be involved with anything to do with him."
Before Sabe' could respond however, there came a blood curdling scream form the kitchen. And the two troopers guarding the door quickly ran over to Padme'.
"What in the world-"Padme' tried to ask, but before she knew it, the two troopers had her by the arms and were leading her out of the room.
"Apologies Milady, but one of your servants is dead," the one on her right told her.
"Who?" she asked shocked.
"Renee'," he answered. And her eyes widened, because she knew what that meant.
Renee' was her taster.
"Someone knows you're here and tried to poison you," he continued. "We have orders to get you off planet."
"Orders from who?" Padme' demanded, but did not receive an answer as they reached her private cruiser and Sabe', who had followed them, led her on board while the troopers gave the pilot orders for immediate take off.
After they had left Naboo's atmosphere, Captain Perry arrived at Padme's cabin.
"Captain, what's happened?" she asked.
"I'm sorry for the rushed take off Milady, but when your life is in danger we take it very seriously," he told her calmly.
"Of course," she said, trying to take some of the harshness out of her voice. "Very well then, where will we be going to wait out this threat?"
At that question, the Captain paused and looked down.
"Captain Perry?" Padme' questioned.
"I have orders to get you to Coruscant as quickly as possible."
"Orders from who?" she asked once more, gritting her teeth.
"From the Emperor, Milady," he answered looking back up at her.
She looked away from him and retreated farther into her cabin.
"Milady will retire now, if you'll excuse us Captain," Sabe' said, gesturing him to the door.
"Of course," he nodded and left the room, closing the door behind him.
Sabe' walked up to her friend, who now stood at the window, looking out into the vast view of space.
"Padme'?" she asked quietly, putting her hands on either one of Padme's arms.
Padme' shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes.
"I can't go back Sabe'."
"You have too. No one can dispute him."
After a moment of silence, Sabe' ushered Padme' away from the window.
"Come, lay down and rest. We'll be at Coruscant within a day, and you'll get to see the twins," she said, trying to comfort Padme'.
That was true, at least.
As Padme' laid down on the bed, she turned to her side and curled up like she use to do when she was alone at night without her Jedi, and she thought the pain of being without him was too much to bear. And she thought about where she was going now.
She was going back. Back to politics. Back to war. Back to trade deals and backstabbing. Back to her children.
Back to him.
