Chapter 1: New Beginnings

The people of Theed could not have asked for a more perfect day, or a more perfect place in the galaxy for the crowning of their new queen. This day marked an end to the uncertainty and distrust that had marred the idyllic world's politics ever since Veruna abdicated his throne. Some were skeptical that a fourteen- year-old girl could handle the pressures of office; others worried that she might become little more than a pawn in someone else's larger game. Most however were willing to hope that this fresh youthful face would mean an equally fresh start for the planet.

Queen Amidala's landslide win was seen as a good omen and her acceptance of her opponent Sio Bibble as an advisor buoyed the people's expectations and so on the morning of the coronation, spirits were high. A thrill of excitement passed through the crowd as the appointed time approached and a spontaneous cheer erupted when the Queen stepped out onto the portico.

For the first time their new queen stood before them in her full royal regalia. She was a sight to behold; stunning in both beauty and manner. The royal wardrobe designers had been a bit miffed when she had expressed her desires for her coronation gown. The traditional color for the coronation was pale blue, but she had been insistent in her choice. She wore a gown of a silky cloth with a bust as dark as midnight that gradually lightened as it flowed downward until it was the traditional coronation color at the lower hem. Silver embroidered thread accented the neck, waist and bottom edge of the dress with a delicate design derived from the symbol of the Royal House of Naboo. Her make-up, the royal mask, was just as carefully chosen for its symbolism as the dress she wore. Her rich thick chestnut hair lay in ringlets down her back. As she stood proudly before them they cheered wildly. She allowed them to express their joy for a moment but then took a step forward, distancing herself from her security team and held a hand up both in greeting and as a signal for silence.

"My people," she began.

A roar of approval drowned out her next words. She paused, a bit startled and embarrassed and then relaxed into a smile. She let them cheer for a moment then raised her hand again.

When the crowd had calmed she started once more, "My people, we have experienced turmoil and uncertainty but we have emerged stronger. We have looked into the dark mirror and seen an unpleasant reflection but instead of turning away from that image, we have decided to change it. And we have changed it, for the better! We must not be afraid to look at what has happened where we failed…."

Many in the crowd heard her compassion and determination; others heard her hope and faith. Some were not listening to her words, not paying attention when she mentioned the legislative changes which would ensure Veruna's corruption could not happen again; some didn't understand all the implications of what she said, but all of them understood her strength and her love for the people. And they loved her in return for it.

Her voice rose and even those who had not paid attention to the details of her political plans listened to her again.

"There is an old proverb from the village of my birth, the purest gold goes through the hottest fire. Let this have been our fire!" She let the last word ring through the square. A spell of silence held the crowd and her next words came softly, but just as forcefully, "Let us go forward renewed in our vigilance to stay true to our values. Let freedom never be corrupted by greed." The queen's voice was gradually gaining volume and as it rose so did the excitement of the crowd, "Let us never fall into the subtle and deceitful trap of complacency wherein we are made slaves. You have entrusted me with more than a political office, you have entrusted me with your futures, and your dreams and it is both an honor and a burden, but I will not fail this people. I will not allow the sacred trust between you and this office to be broken again. I serve you my people and nothing else. Not wealth, not power, not institutions, I am iyour/i Queen and everything I do will be for you."

The crowd burst into screams of approval and thunderous applause. Her rhetoric had stirred them up, but more than that they sensed her honesty and her true willingness to serve. They did, despite Veruna's black mark, trust her.

And yet, some watching her were not so joyous. Standing right at the front of the crowd were two people holding each other tightly, not stopping the tears running down their faces. Their baby, their youngest daughter was now living a life completely separate from her parents. They had no doubt that she would serve faithfully as monarch, but they also knew the sacrifices she had made to come this far. They had supported her in her choices, entering the Civil Service Corps and the Youth Legislature, but they had watched broken hearted as the most treasured years of her childhood fell by the wayside. She had completely immersed herself in her lessons and political debates. They never spoke of these things to her, but they almost mourned for the fourteen-year-old mature woman who now stood before them.

Beside Ruwee and Jobal stood Sola, the queen's older sister, wondering if she would ever again be able to boss her little sister around. It was nearly incomprehensible: her little sister, the brat who had begged her to read stories, was now her Queen.

Former friends who had been in the Youth Legislature marveled at how far she had gone. Some had decided to leave their civil service track and pursue other careers. Others had remained in the system and were just now entering government positions, but none had achieved so much in so short a time as Padmé Amidala.

In small alleys and darkened rooms that positively screamed "clandestine" the less legitimate businessmen gathered, scowling at the promises of the queen to crack down on their business interests. Of course every politician promised the same things but most never made an effort to halt the small but thriving black market that mostly traded the unique plasma mined on Naboo. Veruna had gotten involved in their market, earning sums on the side and though it was just a part of his corruption he had posed a danger to them all when he was forced out of office. This new queen though was a young idealist and they feared her zealous ambitions. Watching the legislative changes that had taken place even before her coronation warned them of further changes to come. Quietly then they expanded their business practices to carting more products and making themselves indispensable in certain areas, even going to far as insuring that they had appropriate contacts should they need to leave the planet.

From a window along the side of the street a man watched the proceedings with a polite smile on his face. Veruna had been useful to him, but the man had been too reckless. Now his plans would be set back a few months. No matter though, this new queen would be his pawn just like all the others. She was young and naïve, posing no problem to him. She would suit his purposes just fine.

And at the far back of the crowd a teenage girl stood watching the proceedings with a very troubled look on her face. This did not bode well, not well at all.

00

Towards sunset, after the majority of the public festivities were over and most people had returned to their homes or gone to tapcafes to continue their celebrations, a light knock came to a door on the outskirts of Theed.

An Amaran opened the door and quickly ushered his guest inside. "I understand that you have need of some of my services," he spoke nervously, flicking his tail sporadically.

"Can you do it?"

"Well… well, I certainly can…"

"Would it stand up to government scrutiny?"

"That depends…"

"On what?" a note of impatience entered the customer's voice.

"On how much you are willing to pay of course. My slicers are the best and can insert and erase the right data, but it simply depends on your ability to pay."

"I want it foolproof. I want it believable."

"Yes, yes of course, my work has stood up to the best security protocols on Naboo. But will cost you…."

"How much?" The impatience was no longer veiled.

The Amaran smiled the negotiations were at just the right point now, he was about to name his price when the customer's hand shifted and brought something out of a cloak pocket.

"Will this cover the costs?"

The vulpine business man's eyes widened considerably. Light flickered off the sapphire gem temptingly. He sucked in his breath and picked it up feeling it for flaws, examining it to make sure it was genuine.

It was.

"Yes, yes, this will do…this will do very nicely." He was breathing hard with greedy excitement now. He knew of many who would offer spectacular sums for this item.

The customer plucked it right out of his hand and placed it back among the folds of the cloak. "And you shall have it when I get what I want."

The Amaran looked as though he were itching to hold the gem again. He nodded quickly, "In the morning, come back in the morning and you shall have it."

oo

Amidala looked over the city from her new home. The Royal Palace. She had never dreamed she would become queen at such a young age, and even now that she was here it all seemed surreal. Had that really been her standing there in front of the crowd? Sighing, she briefly rested her forehead against the cool transparisteel of the window. She needed to get to sleep; she had a busy day tomorrow. Her Chief of Security Captain Panaka had mentioned needing her to interview the best candidates for her Royal Handmaidens, Sio Bibble, newly established governor of Naboo, had scheduled three hours of her time for serious discussion on the black market problem and the latest updates on the Trade Federation. To make matters worse the wardrobe designers needed to take more measurements. All of this was supposed to take place before lunch, after which she had a holo-meeting with the governors of the other colonies that were technically under the Naboo Monarchy. Traditionally those planetoid colonies were autonomous but she had a certain amount of symbolic authority over them and an obligation to pass their concerns on to Senator Palpatine who represented them all in the Senate. Then she had a holo-meeting with the Senator himself. He had attended the coronation that morning but left immediately after to return to Coruscant, stopping only to congratulate her and ask for some time the next day.

She turned away from the window and looked to the enormous bed in the royal chambers. She shook her head at the opulence of the room given to her, remembering the cramped dormitories where she had practically grown up. Sitting down on the bed she thought of the room in her parents' house that she infrequently slept in, but quickly pushed those thoughts out of her mind as she slipped her shoes off and laid down to go to sleep.