I wished I could add more characters but there's 4 character limit. lol
Captain Panaka was growing more and more annoyed by having to wait.
"She should be here right now." he almost growled.
The doors opened and he took his position. Ready to welcome the new Queen, he was stunned by noticing two teenage girls entering.
"Who are they?" Panaka whispered to a royal security guard named Cyrus.
"I-I have no idea sir."
"These are the already picked out handmaidens of our new queen!" the guard with the harsh voice exclaimed. His voice made Sabé twitch.
"And here she is... Queen Padmé!" he presented Padmé.
"Hello!" Padmé smiled her brightest smile.
Panaka looked at them in disbelief, he looked at Cyrus who was also in disbelief.
"Your highness, we've already picked out your handmaidens." Panaka tried his best to sound pleasant.
"I heard so but I thought you couldn't have enough with handmaidens so I brought my friends Sabé and Eirtaé." Padmé introduced her friends.
Panaka's patience was running thin.
"Your highness... This is a royal palace not a daycare."
"We aren't that young sir..." Sabé replied. She later wished she hadn't replied to Panaka's comment. His eyes were piercing into her.
"Very well. You'll be escorted to your royal chamber, there you'll meet your already picked out handmaidens." He underlined handmaidens.
They were escorted by Cyrus to the royal chamber.
"Geez, he seems to be fun." Eirtaé said sarcastically.
"Oh, you mean Panaka? He's alright, give him a chance." Cyrus turned to the girls. "He's very disciplined. He hates chaos and likes order. He does not have a sweet spot for child rulers." Cyrus made a gesture towards Padmé.
"Why not?" Padmé asked.
"He's not a superstitious guy. He doesn't believe in the good luck child rulers bring but it's not only that. Remember King Veruna? Well of course you do remember him. The old king was murdered on Panaka's watch. He never forgave himself after that." Cyrus said. "Don't think he's mean when he's harsh. He vowed that Veruna's successor would always be safe from any harm doing."
"Damn... Heard that Padmé? I had no idea your predecessor was murdered..." Eirtaé said and tried to tease her by sounding leery.
"I heard that Eirtaé."
"Here's your royal chamber." Cyrus said and opened the red door. "Might I present your new Queen, handmaidens!" Cyrus said to the girls inside while opening.
The room was bigger than Padmé had expected. Full of great handmade details on the walls. The colors were black, red and gold, her royal colors it seemed.
"And her loyal companions, Sabé and Eirtaé of Varykino!"
The girls didn't seem much older than them. Perhaps 14-17 years old? They bowed to Padmé and introduced themselves.
"I'm Dormé." said the oldest one. She was tall with dark brown hair, big brown eyes. Followed by her was another girl named Cordé and after her, Rabé. They all had been chosen by Panaka because of their resemblance to Padmé.
Cyrus left the girls to get to know each other. When he left the room. The atmosphere changed drastically.
"So... A Naberrie am I right?" Dormé asked the nervous Padmé.
"Uh... Yes..." Padmé answered.
"Nice. It's going to be great to have you as our Queen... These are your friends?" Dormé gestured at Sabé and Eirtaé.
"Yes, they are going to be my handmaidens along with you guys."
"I guess there's no such thing has too much handmaidens." Dormé replied. "I should tell you. Cordé, Rabé and I are already tutored in the art of a handmaiden, we know everything from how to conduct yourself to how to dress. You'll have a tutor, her name is Yona and she's old as an fossil. " Dormé told them. "I guess you've met Pancakes?"
"Pancakes?"
"Captain Panaka. He hates that nickname but don't be fooled by his harsh exterior, he's a sweetheart deep inside."
"Anything else we need to know?" Sabé asked the handmaidens.
"You might need to change your name." Cordé said to Padmé.
"Of course she's going to have to change her name. You can't be known as Queen Padmé Naberrie." Dormé said.
"What's wrong with my name?"
"Nothing but it's tradition. You are already well known by the name Padmé Naberrie and a monarch has to have a name for herself. Naberrie is a name of nobility but it's not a royal name." Dormé explained. "Before anything else you need to settle for a name. It can be a name that runs in the family but it cannot be your already established surname. "
Padmé looked at both Sabé and Eirtaé as if they had any suggestions. Both shrugged.
A new name... I could really have fun with this but I should be taking this seriously.
"Can I keep my first name?" Padmé asked Dormé. Dormé looked at Cordé and Rabé, they all gave a nod as an approval.
"I choose... Amidala, as my last name." Padmé answered them.
"Queen Padmé Amidala." Rabé said with pride. "Sounds great."
"Now you'll have to present your name to Panaka and the royal council. After that, etiquette by Lady Yona and then your coronation will begin." Dormé said, preparing Padmé for all the plans laid out to her.
"Don't forget!" Rabé said. "You'll have to change your voice."
"What's wrong with my voice?" Padmé said. She felt a bit offended.
"Nothing but the Queen of Naboo cannot sound like a 13 year old girl." Rabé replied.
"Uhm... Reality check? But the Queen of Naboo is an actual 13 year old girl." Sabé replied not amused by Rabé's comment.
"Oh right. Pancakes told me to give you this." Dormé said and reached for a small chip in her pocket.
"What is that?" Padmé looked at the small metallic silver chip.
"This little thing is going to make your voice go from Padmé Naberrie to Padmé Amidala." Dormé looked surprisingly happy.
"Do I... Do I swallow it?"
"Nooo. You'll stick this in your throat. It might hurt a little and send some vibrations to your vocal cord but it's going to make you sound a whole lot different."
"In my throat?" Padmé was horrified.
"Please, it's not as bad as you think. " Dormé rolled her eyes. "You Varykino girls are so worried."
"Hey!" Eirtaé stepped in. "It's you TWO Varykino girls and her royal Highness."
"You're learning. But you have to try it." Dormé offered Padmé the chip.
Padmé reluctantly took the chip. "I'll stick this in my throat?"
"Yes. It will be absorbed into your skin." Dormé said as it was the most obvious thing ever.
"What do I do when I want to take it out?"
"The chip will reappear on your skin and you pull it out. It also reads your mind so whenever you feel like taking it out will come off by itself however I doubt you'll have to take it out. You are going to need it whenever you speak as the Queen."
Padmé pressed the cold chip to her throat. Eirtaé and Sabé got closer to see the spectacle. It hurt for a moment and it gave a squishy sound. The ordeal was over in a matter of seconds.
"Now reply after me." Dormé said. "I am Queen Amidala of Naboo."
Padmé felt their eyes staring at her. She inhaled and opened her mouth.
"I am Queen Amidala of Naboo." her voice echoed in the chamber. It almost scared her, hearing herself sounding so mature and almost robotic.
"Shiraya's word!" Sabé exclaimed. "Padmé... I mean Queen Amidala... That was amazing. Your voice... You sound even more regal than Princess Breha of Alderaan!"
"You sound like a droid slayer." Eirtaé replied.
Padmé looked excited yet she didn't dare speak as the voice sounded so foreign to her.
"C'mon! Speak, say my name." Sabé said.
"Sabé, my loyal companion." Padmé replied to her. The girls were gushing over Padmé's 'new' voice.
"Okay.. Now say... I will kick separatist butt because I'm the ruler of Naboo."
As Padmé began speak with her new commanding voice. Captain Panaka, without knocking entered the room to find the girls on the floor laughing at Padmé.
"Having your fun?" Panaka said with a sharp voice.
Padmé got the chip out of her throat. "I'm so-sorry Pancakes... I mean Captain Panaka."
Panaka's stern eyes examined the girls. He looked at Dormé as if he was disappointed in her.
"Your Highness, come with me." he said, with a much calmer voice.
Padmé almost stumbled on her way out of the room.
"Has Your Highness decided on a name yet?" he sounded surprisingly nicer than when he greeted them.
"Yes. Padmé Amidala."
The tall Captain looked down at the 13 year old girl. There were much innocence in those brown eyes. Soon they'll disappear . He thought to himself. No regent could ever maintain their childlike qualities after their reign is over. They end up assassinated, corrupt or very seldom, decent politicians.
"Sounds terrific. Your Highness. You know of the responsibilities that acquires of the Queen? You'll meet a lot of politicians, fellow royals and you will be the representative of your people." Panaka said while taking a stroll with Padmé. She has to be ready for everything. Another reason why he disliked child rulers generally was that he strictly believed that no child should be pressured into the adult world.
"I won't fail you." Padmé looked up at her protector. Panaka had a tough exterior. He didn't seem like anyone who could take a joke or even stand a teenage girl. Padmé wasn't uncomfortable with him in her presence but she wasn't comfortable either. He took his job seriously and she appreciated that.
"You can't afford failing Your Highness. These are desperate times and since King Veruna's untimely death, all eyes will be on you. Analyzing every political move you'll make alongside our representative senator. Naboo might be peaceful but don't let that fool you, we have enemies." Panaka finished.
Padmé tried to hide her emotions. She felt horrified yet it came as no surprise for her. Her own father had prepared her for many royal duties and obstacles that might be in her way.
"What do I do?" Padmé asked her royal bodyguard.
"I will teach you to shoot with a blaster."
Sometimes the Moff would snicker to himself whenever he remembered the former Queen. She was a fast learner, unfortunately for him she'd ask too many questions. She was curious to learn but even so much curiosity would go on his nerves. He loved that child. He gave 10 years of his royal service to her and when she abdicated, he gave his undying support to her. But his support had died with her.
"You were once a loyal servant to the former Queen Amidala of Naboo." Princess Leia Organa once told him. "Surely you would consider changing your allegiance in memory of you Queen?"
The elderly former Captain glanced at the young Princess.
"Your father was a close friend to her, wasn't he? The honorable Bail Organa." Panaka asked her with a monotone voice.
The young princess nodded. "He worked closely with her in the senate but my governess was a close friend of her as well."
Panaka turned to face the Alderaanian princess.
"You might know her as Sabé."
"Remember Your Highness. Do not flick the heavy blaster with your hand. It's not the same as the smaller ones, the heavy ones will break your wrist." Panaka taught her how to hold the blaster correctly.
"Remind me please, why am I learning this?"
"Because our protection is never enough. You and your handmaidens are going to learn this. Where the hell are they anyway?!" Panaka had called for them half an hour ago.
Eirtaé and Sabé came running in to the royal hall. Panaka had set up a training set for them-
"Forgive us for being late!" Sabé said and looked terrified of Panaka.
"The palace is huge." Eirtaé said to Padmé who was giggling.
"Handmaidens, you will learn to handle blasters today." Panaka said unimpressed by their lateness.
"Why in the name of the galaxy's sun should we be handling blasters?" Sabé asked. She soon regretted asking when Panaka approached her.
"Because Your Highness, Lady Eirtaé and you Lady Sabé, are going to learn how to defend yourselves in a fight for your own survival."
Sabé looked confused when she was handed the blaster. Eirtaé looked happy to have the weapon in her hand.
"Don't look so bitter Sabé! It's a great weapon. We'll learn how to protect the Queen."
"If you say so." Sabé said and had a change of thought. She held the blaster close to her. "Look at me. I'm a Republic clone!" Sabé said mimicking the clones from Kamino. "Bang! Bang!"
"I don't think blasters make that sound." Padmé said, looking over Sabé's blaster.
"What sound do they make?" Eirtaé asked.
"I think... WOAH!" Sabé accidentally fired the blaster and almost fell to the ground. A light struck out of the blaster and a sharp sound echoed. It took Panaka by surprise.
Padmé looked all over the big hall to see if Sabé had hit anything. Everyone was okay except for an antique vase that was in shambles.
"WHAT IN THE NAME OF SHIRAYA?" Panaka shouted, seeing the vase in shambles.
"Oops." Sabé said showing an unsure smile. Panaka sighed. He felt that these girls were going to be handful. Minimum 5 years to maximum 10 years, he'll teach these girls everything he knew. And Panaka never suspected how attached he would get to them later on.
"I don't remember any Sabé."
