Just then the door opened and the three Jedi spectators from outside, quietly stepped in aswell.
"We don't mean to interupt..." Obi-Wan started, but Anakin held up his hand to stop his friend.
"You're not. Come on in."
The three Jedi also pulled up chairs and sat around the bed. After Obi-Wan had re-told the story of what happened to Padme, Anakin decided that now was the time for answers.
"Masters? Was it Padme who was talking on the platform, or was it the force using her?"
Padme shifted slightly, not entirely comfortable with the fact that she could have been used by something she didn't even understand.
"What do you think Padme?" Yoda asked and her eyes widened in shock.
"Me?"
"Yes. Had the power, you did. Was it you, or was it the force?" Yoda asked kindly but Padme sighed.
"I honestly can't remember Master Yoda."
"Give it time. Ready to face it yet, you are not. But soon you will."
"And what if I don't want to?" she asked, slightly alarmed by the fact that she might suddenly one day remember something truly awful.
"No choice, you have. I'm sorry."
"I think it was Padme who was doing it." Anakin stated, trying to shift the focus from Padme to him. Padme smiled at him gratefully as the other Jedi turned away from her and let her relax.
"Why do you say that?" Mace asked curiously.
"Well...on the platform, she called me Ani. Only two people have ever called me that, my mother and Padme. If it was the force, why would it call me Ani, and not Master, like it called you?"
"The boy has a point." Mace turned to Yoda.
"Hmmm. But what of the powers? Explain them, can you?"
Anakin thought for a moment, then he nodded.
"If she truly is the Dark Lord, what if she had the powers all along, but just never knew she had them, or didn't know how to use them. The entire Force running through her head could have...unlocked that power and let her use it."
"It's possible." Mace and Obi-Wan nodded. There was a long silence as the four Jedi pondered about events on the platform. Padme didn't want to interupt, but knew that if anything was going to be done, she had to.
"Excuse me? Master Jedi. I don't mean to interupt but what do we do now? What about the Senate?"
After all, a new Supreme Chancellor was needed, seeing as she had apparently disintegrated the last one. Obi-Wan turned to her, grinning madly. She pulled a face that showed that she thought he had gone barmy, but this just made him grin even more.
"Padme...every Senator in the Senate has chosen you to be the new Supreme Chancellor. They recognize that you can lead them to a far brighter and safer future than any other senator in the Galaxy." Mace revelealed at last, after it was clear that Obi-Wan wouldn't. For the first time in her life Padme was speachless. Her mouth opened and closed like she was saying something, but no words would come out.
At last she swallowed and tried again.
"Of...of course I'll be the new Supreme Chancellor, but...but I need your help." she said.
"Make a statement in the senate, you should. Explain to them about your wishes and new rules." Yoda suggested and Padme nodded, knowing it was the only way.
"I want the Jedi and the Republic to work together in peace. The Jedi are welcome to join in with the new Senate where your voice shall at last be heard." she said, returning to her diplomatic self. For the next few moments, she wasn't Padme Amidala, or even Senator Amidala any more, but for those few moments she was Supreme Chancellor Amidala.
"Thankyou Milady." the Jedi said, bowing. Even Anakin did, knowing that Padme was doing the right thing.
"If the Senate had allowed the Jedi to be heard in the first place, this war may never have happened." she sighed and they all nodded in agreement.
A wise quote suddenly flashed into Anakin's head and he smiled at the thought. Then he saw the others looking at him and decided that he'd better share it with them aswell.
"I've just remembered an old quote I once heard someone say...'Our greatest glory is not to never fall..."he recited "...but to rise up again when we do.' That's what we're doing now. Rising up again after a long fall, like a phoenix. And I have a feeling this new era will be better than ever before."
"Here here!" the others said in unison.
