Hello Everyone!

Review Replies

Empresselizabeth: No, they did not. They were in the bedroom, Luke was in the living room. 'Cringe' I'm so sorry you got that idea. This chapter is shorter, but as I get better the chapters will get longer. Thanks!

Jedi Master Misty Sman-Esay: Thank you! I love your stories by the way. Luke had the last name of Skywalker because his real birth certificate was hidden imho. Even if it wasn't, that is what happens here. Padme knows her real last name, but she uses her mother's. So, for now she's Padme Shife.

Thank you for following MommyMayl and Jedi Master Misty Sman-Esay!

Chapter One

Twelve Years Later

"And one, two, three, four, spin, and sway!" Madame Brack barked out like a Drill Sargent. If you were to walk past the practice rooms for the Imperial Palace Dancers on any given day, you could hear Bark (the nickname the girls gave her) with her harsh voice yelling and sometimes swearing. The class was soon over. The girls had a few minutes before they had to leave for the next class, so they gathered into groups to chat.

"Pada, do you really think that we will someday dance for the Emperor?" asked Lani, another of the 'students'. Pada was Padme's nickname with her friends.

Padme shrugged, "Maybe, maybe not. We might not come up to standard and be rejected."

Lani shivered, "I hope not," she whispered, "Do you hear the stories about what happens to rejects."

"I know." replied Padme sadly, "I wish I could leave, but that is about as likely as Naboo becoming an ice planet."

Another one of the girls, Mara, laughed harshly, "You mean Vader will marry before that happens." she continued haughtily, "I wouldn't leave anyway. I'm happy here."

"Happy in this hell, mph." muttered Lani.

"What did you say!" hissed Mara.

Padme spoke calmly, "Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, Lani, Mara." Mara grinned sheepishly and Lara sighed. Padme shook her head, "Since we are all friends, you would think we would get along."

Lani and Mara grinned, "Not on your life!"

Dancers were allowed only one meal a day at the end of the day. The girls always speculated on why that was. Lara came up with the most plausible answer, that they do it for three reasons: 1. To keep us submissive, because if you disobey you don't even get that meal, 2. To keep us stick thin, and 3. To keep us from costing too much money. And even Mara agreed with those ideas. Today, dinner was like always a strange, disgusting soup that was only for the nutrients, not the taste.

"So, Mara," asked Lara, "I have always wondered why you hate Vader so much." Padme's left eyebrow went up as to say 'Are you egging her on?'

Mara made a face at the taste of the soup, "I would like to keep that knowlege to myself, thank you."

"But..." started Lara.

"Lara." Padme warned, "She does not want to talk about it, SO. DON'T. TALK. ABOUT. IT."

"Alright, alright, I won't!" said Lara, lifting her hands in a gesture of surrender.

"After we're done eating, do you have any ideas of what we should do, Padme?" asked Mara.

"How about we sneak out?" suggested Lani.

"What!" hissed Mara, "Are you crazy! They'll catch us, and then we won't eat for a week!"

"So," goaded Lani, "I rather have a second of freedom than food for a month."

"Mara is right, Lani," replied Padme, "Also, if our scores are low enough, they'll reject us."

"Oh."

Mara shook her head, "Now she get's it."

"Sorry."

"I'm done," Mara sighed, "are you?"

"Yes. Yea." was her answer. They gathered up their dishes and walked toward their dorm.

"So, like I was saying," said Mara, "what should we do, Pada?"

"What about studying our homeworlds senators?" suggested Padme.

"Sounds good." was Lani and Mara's reply.

"So, I get Garm Bel Iblis, you get Pooja Naberrie, and Mara…." Lani's voice trailed off.

"And I'll take Bail Organa." finished Mara.

The girls were at their room's door. "Good," replied Padme, "let's get to work."

The girls laughed as Lani gave a very humourous report on Senator Iblis. "I think that was even better than Padme's report!" laughed Mara.

The girls were ready for bed by the time each had read their report. Lani took a sip of water and then the lights flipped off. "Lights out." sighed Lani, "Good night!"

"Good night!" yawned Padme.

"Night." said Mara.

Each of the girls wondered how the next day would turn out. Hopefully, Madame would be in a good temper.

Again, I'm sorry it's so short. I'll try to post often if short and try to make them longer. Also, if you would like me do a one shot expanding on the prologue just let me know.

This my first attempt at serious writing so all constructive criticism is welcome. And normal reviews too, of course! Flames, however, are for lighting candles. ;)