40ABY, Theed Royal Palace, Naboo
"Happy Birthday your Highness!" Sadie told Elisa as her Queen climbed out of bed.
"Thank you Sadie," Elisa praised her handmaiden, "Another year older, I guess."
"Oh, your Highness, you're only thirty-six years young."
"Oh Sadie, think yourself lucky you're only fourteen," Elisa continued, "To be fair, you've got a much better teenage years than I had stuck in that Imperial Academy."
"I wish to continue serving you, your highness," Sadie replied, "I still owe you."
"If that is what you wish but I am perfectly happy with you ever starting a life with Johann," Elisa told Sadie, "Sadie, I never see you as my handmaiden, I see you as more like my daughter and I am proud of you for becoming the lady you are."
"Thank you, it means a lot," Sadie replied.
"We can't forget the ongoing issue about the size of our armed force," Ali suggested to the Advisory Council, "This bill passed by the General Council has to pass us."
The Advisory Council of the Royal House of Naboo sat in the High Council chamber in the Theed Palace. Presented before them was a debatable bill, of which would increase the size of Naboo's defensive army in the repercussions from the dreadful attack which had scarred the people of Theed. Ali had also seen changes in Matty since then too, including his behaviour and temperament.
"Neither can we forget the hundreds of children left without a home or education," Education Regent Camla Shif stated, "There needs to be more funding on helping these children before getting ourselves a large army, we have the Republic on our side."
"The last time we trusted the Republic, they never showed up," Defence Regent Palion Hendettia.
"We have the funds, we could try to boost both, though it would mean little military expansion and only a few children being given homes," Ali told the Council, "It is the best we can do on a deal for both sides of this equation to balance."
"What his Majesty suggests is the best solution," Jainie Fratte, Regent of Health and Welfare suggested, "We have spent too long arguing about what to do with this bill for too long, something needs to be done."
"Then I think we have reached a conclusion," Ali told the Council, "I will present my conclusion to the people tomorrow but today is Queen Elisa's birthday and her royal party is later on tonight."
Ali exited the chambers as he thought of what both sides had been saying and his lack of confidence to make a decision between them. This sort of hesitation made him feel as if he was not fit to be the leader. But he knew his people loved him.
"Ali," a voice came from behind the King.
"I know this is a hard decision for you to make," Camla told him, "Give education or secure protection for the people."
"It's personal, education is important, it cannot be denied, your mother was the best teacher for me," Ali told the Education Regent, "That's how I met you."
"It was all because your father helped us."
"He loved your mother with all his heart," Ali replied.
"But, the defence of our world has become an increasingly pressing issue, the last attack on our home was the harshest ever," Ali continued, "Without a capable defence, we won't stand another attack like that."
40ABY, The Ferocia, Unknown Regions
The room was dark as a figure entered dressed in an Imperial officer uniform as he knelt before a faded hologram.
"Admiral Yuin."
"Yes, my Leader?"
"Our success is near."
"Has the boy scummed to your plan?"
"Indeed, he has taken the holocron."
"How long until he becomes our new leader?"
"Soon enough, by using it, I can finally ignite my soul inside of him."
"Very good, my Leader."
"Admiral Yuin, soon the Imperial Sith Order will be the new Empire, your father will be proud of you."
40ABY, Theed Royal Palace, Naboo
Matty sat in the darkness of a room. It was completely pitch black apart from a small gap under the door. He lay his fingers upon the triangular object and concentrated as hard as he could to lift it. His calm force powers could not raise the object. Matty growled to himself as he clenched his fists and then opened them quickly. He grew angry as he holocron began to shake on the ground. Matty roared to himself as he felt something ignite as the world around him grew red.
He awoke still sat up as he holocron floated in front of him. It glowed a dark crimson red which illuminated the room. He felt something had changed inside of him, he felt he had learned something. He heard footsteps outside the room. He quickly grabbed the holocron and put it behind his back as he opened the door to Sadie Trensel.
"Oh!" Sadie jumped before continuing to say, "I didn't know you were in there."
"I just realised you were here too," Matty awkwardly replied.
"Why were you in the storage room?"
"I needed some time to meditate, alone, away from everything," Matty explained.
"Okay," Sadie replied, "Makes sense, you've been through a lot."
Matty slowly dropped the holocron on the chest behind him as Sadie headed for the door. He sighed in relief that she hadn't suspected his possession of the object and edged towards his sofa to sit down letting his eyes rest.
"Oh, what's this?" Sadie asked, "Is this a-"
"Get your hands off that now!" Matty roared as Sadie held the holocron in her hands, he rose to his feet approaching the girl like a giant over an insect, "Why did you pick it up?
"It's a Sith Holocron, you shouldn't be in possession of that," Sadie told Matty, "Think of what your father will say."
"He won't know."
"I will tell him," Sadie threatened.
"Then you aren't going anywhere!" Matty shouted in her face as he turned away to the window.
Sadie made a dash for the door, Matty turned around to watch her sprint with the holocron in her hands. He raced after the girl into the corridors of the palace.
Sadie knew she needed to lose Matty quick, that boy was powerful and could do terrible things to her. She remembered what Krooda had taught her, techniques to blend in like a ninja. Now might had been the time to use them.
Matty raced down the corridor and stormed through a pair of doors towards the central sector. Little to his knowledge, Sadie watched him from the ceiling as she grasped on with a firm grip. She had to tell Ali, Matty could be going down a dark path, one nobody could recover him from.