The lights of Coruscant were bright and vivid. Padme watched the ships flying by. She never told anyone, but she found Coruscant to be really tedious. In fact she traveled to a lot of places, some were very fun, but Naboo was always in her heart.
Watching all of those colors through the window only made her feel sad. The people of Naboo was suffering and she ran away. She should never have left Naboo, Padme thought that coming to Coruscant and talking to the Chancellor would fix everything, but it only made it worse.
Now not only Naboo was dying, but the Intergalactic Senate too. But what other choice did she have? If she didn't come to Coruscant then she was going to be held hostage in her own home. And then she had to fight against the Chancellor because he wasn't doing anything to help. "But what now? Who is going to be the new Chancellor?".
Padme didn't trust Palpatine one bit, regardless of what everyone was saying, but maybe he was on to something. He was clever, perhaps too clever. Well, he certainly was stronger than Valorum. Maybe he could help Naboo. "And then what?", she had fear. She feared for the galaxy. She was young but she could feel the danger in the air. Something was not right. But no one else felt that way. If she said anything no one would believe her.
"I'm too young for this". Padme often felt that way when something was wrong because of her. She wasn't fit for a Queen. It was all her fault. Palpatine was under her wing, it was her fault thet he was there. She didn't know how to negotiate with the Trade Federation. She didn't know what to say to her people. Everybody saw her as naive and stupid. So much that she started to feel exactly that.
But she was still the Queen. Her people needed her. They voted for her. They trusted her to not give up in moments like this. Captain Panaka and Palpatine rushed into the room and bowed before her.
"Your Highness, Senator Palpatine has been nominated to succeed Valorum as Supreme Chancellor", said Capt. Panaka smilling. Palpatine grimmed.
"A suprise, to be sure, but a welcome one.", said the Senator. Padme walked away from him, unimpressed. He continued: "If I'm elected I promise to put an end to corruption."
"I highly doubt that.", Padme thought to herself, then she asked: "Who else can be nominated?"
"Bail Antilles of Alderaan and Ainlee of Malastare", Panaka answered.
She knew both of them. Bail seemed to be smart and fair, Ainlee wasn't human but Padme liked him, he was often fighting for justice. Both of them were better choices than Palpatine, but that wasn't on her anymore. She had buissness elsewhere.
"I feel confident... our 'situation' will create strong simpathy vote for us... I will be Chancellor, I promise you."
Padme didn't care. All she wanted was Naboo to be freed, with or without Palpatine.
"With the Senate in transition, there is nothing more I can do here... Senator, this is your arena. I feel I must return to mine. I have decided to go back to Naboo. My place is with my people."
"Go back! But, Your Majesty, be realistic! You would be in danger. They will force you to sign the treaty.", the Senator warned.
"I will sign no treaty, Senator. My fate will be no different from that of my people. Captain!"
"Yes, Your Highness?"
"Ready my ship!"
"Please, Your Majesty, stay here... where it's safe", begged the Captain.
Padme was determined.
"No place is safe, if the Senate doesn't condemn this invasion. It is clear to me now that the Republic no longer functions as a democracy. If you win the election, Senator, I pray you will bring sanity and compassion back to the Senate."
She walked away from them. Padme didn't want things to come to that, but there was time to love and there was time to fight. And this was time to fight.