My thanks again to everyone who has been reading, reviewing and or lurking. I hope you've enjoyed this story as much as I've loved writing it. Here is the last chapter, but never fear, there will be a short epilogue which I will post in the next day or so. My thanks again and enjoy the show!

Sweet Christabel: Thank you so much. As for Valentine's, I tend to give flowers and chocolates; however, Anakin being Anakin, he has to be different. Glad you're enjoying!

Emerald Green Queen: Thanks again for spotting out my errors. I swear, one of these days I will learn to spell Inquisitor with 3 i's. As for the rest of your observations, all I can say for now is that most everything will be revealed in this chapter. Hope you enjoy and your faith shall be rewarded :).

Stephanie C: Thanks so much and yes, Anakin has a special 'treat' for his beloved wife. Thanks for reading!

Pokey: Glad you like the twists. A few more are coming. Hope you enjoy!

Confetti floated through the air of the main plaza in Theed as Queen Amidala and her handmaidens walked down the steps of the Palace for the last time. No longer adorned in her regal outfits, Padmé wore a simple lavender dress while her attendants also wore the clothes of civilians. The newly appointed ruler, Jamillia, had taken her oath of office that morning, effectively ending the reign of Amidala. In accordance with tradition, Padmé and her friends exchanged gifts with the new Queen before embarking on their journeys home.

The people of Theed had gathered about the front entrance of the Palace to bid their beloved Queen farewell. Padmé smiled and waved as she approached a large speeder. At that moment, Sabé gave a subtle nod to the others who surrounded Padmé. She stopped suddenly when her friends encircled her. Eying her chief handmaiden suspiciously, she asked with feigned contempt, "What is the meaning of this?"

Sabé grinned and motioned the others to close in. "Your Majesty…Padmé…We wanted to take this last opportunity to tell you something important."

"Which is?" Padmé asked with tears threatening to fall from her eyes.

Saché cleared her throat. "It is our hope that no matter what happens after this day..."

"Or how far we are…" Eirtaé interjected.

"Or how old we get…" Yané added.

"Or where our lives take us…" Rabé continued, trying to fight back tears.

"We will always be your friends and you can depend upon us should you ever require our service once again," Sabé finished.

"And it has been our lives' honor to stand at your side through all the good and terrible days," Saché added.

No longer able to hold back her tears, Padmé cried while reaching out to hug her friends. "You don't know what this means to me."

"We've always looked upon you as our friend and not just our Queen, Padmé." Rabé said, wiping her own tears away.

"And I never saw any of you as subordinates, but rather my equals," Padmé responded. "I expect to hear nothing but good things from all of you as you begin your new careers. Naboo is certainly fortunate to have people like each of you in its service."

Padmé and her handmaidens beamed at one another, despite their tears. At that same moment, Captain Panaka approached the party.

"My Ladies…It's time."

Padmé nodded and turned back to her friends. "For once, allow me to see you off…to offer the same kindness you've shown me through these eight years."

Each one bowed and hugged their former Queen before boarding their individual speeders. Sabé was the last to take her leave and she and Padmé stood facing one another, holding both hands.

"I don't think I would have made it through any of this without you."

"It certainly has been quite the ride," Sabé quipped.

Padmé shook her head in amusement. "Don't ever lose that wit, my friend. You will need it."

She grinned. "I won't, nor will I forget everything you've taught me." The two young women exchanged smiles as Sabé continued, "Being in your service, Milady, has been a privilege."

"The privilege was mine, my sister." Padmé replied. She then embraced Sabé and said, "Now go. Make me proud."

Sabé sadly smiled and nodded. "I do hope our paths cross once again."

"They will," Padmé answered. "I promise."

Sabé bowed respectfully at Padmé who returned the gesture. As she headed to the speeder where her family was anxiously waiting, she turned once more to see her friend and Queen waving good-bye to her. The future was never certain, but Sabé knew that she would once again stand by her friend's side.

Shaking herself out of her disbelief, Sabé ran to the opposite side of the room to check on Ellé. Meanwhile, Padmé stalked inside and remained silent. When Sabé rolled her over, the blank stare on her face told her everything she needed to know.

"She's dead!"

Padmé smirked. "Yes…that was my intention."

"But why?" Sabé demanded.

Padmé gazed at her blankly before turning her focus to the two horrified handmaidens. "I suggest you both leave, lest you end up like poor Ellé."

Both Elermaé and Narlia looked to Sabé. "Do as she says."

"We don't want to abandon you, Milady." Elermaé cried out.

"Go and get yourselves to safety." She then turned towards Padmé. "I will be fine."

The handmaidens hesitantly bowed before leaving Sabé alone with Padmé. The two friends glared at one another before Sabé reached down to pull the japor snippet out of Ellé's lifeless hands. "Is this what you were looking for?"

Padmé clipped her blaster to her belt and walked closer. "That damned Saché… always the sneaky one." She then looked directly at Sabé. "She won't be doing that ever again."

"Then what Ellé said was true…you killed them…you killed them all!"

Amusedly shaking her head, Padmé casually paced about the room. "You simply don't understand."

"Then enlighten me."

"I knew that my mother was dying and we went to Naboo to try to find more about her condition. I never thought I would run into any of you, least of all Saché who, let's face it, lost her mind long ago."

Sabé's face contorted with anger. "She wasn't far enough gone, apparently."

Padmé cackled. "Quite right. And to think I actually offered her the chance to join our crusade."

"What did you tell her?" Sabé questioned.

"Everything," Padmé admitted. "I told her how I escaped death, only to have my son stolen by that treacherous Jedi."

"But she didn't believe you."

"Of course not," Padmé spat. "She was completely insane. Kept spouting off about how she could see evil swirling all around me." She paused to give Sabé a knowing look. "And with what she knew, I couldn't risk having her expose our plans prematurely."

"So Vader killed her!"

Padmé smirked and shook her head. "You would think that Saché was his friend, the way he brooded on and on about it."

"What are you saying?"

"You are the acclaimed Grand Inquisitor," Padmé snapped. "I'm surprised your keen intellect hasn't tied everything together yet."

Sabé stared at the person whom she had always looked upon as a sister in absolute revulsion. She felt her heart was tearing into pieces while the reality of Padmé's betrayal became clear. "It was you that killed the others."

Padmé nodded while mockingly clapping her hands. "It is amazing how a simple modification of an ion blaster can make the charge look like lightening." She stopped walking to look at Sabé. "The face you're making now was about the same when I killed them."

"Why?" Sabé screamed, stalking towards Padmé. "They were your friends. They would have died for you had you asked them."

"And they did." Padmé pushed Sabé away from her. "We knew after Saché's death and Sola's request that you would not stop until you found out about us."

"Then why didn't you just kill me and be done with it?" She demanded as she resolutely pushed down the instinct to cry. "Why did you have to harm our friends?"

Padmé smirked. "Because we needed you alive and your little investigation gave us the opportunity to expose Palpatine's true nature."

"What?"

"Yes," Padmé answered with a smile. "I should thank you actually. You just made me an Empress."

"You and Vader were supposed to restore the Republic and end Palpatine's tyranny."

"We are ending Palpatine's reign… just not in the way you were led to believe."

Sabé shook her head in disbelief while each beat of her heart hurt more than the previous. "But Padmé, you were a Senator and a Queen. You believed in freedom… in democracy!"

"Padmé Amidala was a naïve child who foolishly thought that she could change the universe through incessant debates and peaceful diplomacy. And what did it bring her? Both her husband and son were stolen from her. But I have reclaimed them."

Sabé quizzically looked at her. "The Padmé I knew was a good and decent person. She did things for others and never once asked for anything in return."

"Padmé?" she said, turning to face Sabé. "Padmé died ten years ago when her boy was ripped from her arms." A sly grin filled her face. "And from that weakling's death, I was born."

"What are you saying?"

"I am Lady Vader."

Sabé retreated, absolutely stunned. As she shook her head, tears finally spilled down her cheeks. "No…what did that Sith do to you?"

"He helped me see the truth. Before, I always feared power. Even when I was Queen, I needlessly worried and as a result many important things were never accomplished." Padmé's sinister smile grew. "And once our victory is complete, Anakin and I will remake the Empire and together we shall make things as they should be. No one that we love will ever suffer again."

"This is insanity!" Sabé yelled. "You aren't the master of life and death, Padmé. You cannot control everything!"

Padmé smirked and extended her hand. "Join us, Sabé. I will make you a member of our royal family and you can finally be the mother and wife you've always dreamed of being."

Sabé involuntarily shook. "You are asking me to betray everything I've ever believed in and to follow a woman who has killed her friends to fulfill her own selfish pursuits."

"Oh please," Padmé scoffed. "Don't stand there and lecture me on betrayal. You should know all about that."

"What you are talking about?"

"You helped kill Obi-Wan, after all."

Sabé stiffened. "That… was different."

"How?" Padmé asked, cocking her head to one side.

"He lied to me about…"

Padmé chuckled. "Oh Sabé, you should learn to not be so trusting."

"You mean…"

"Sorry, old friend. It was the only way to guarantee your allegiance."

The pain and regret of losing her child surged within Sabé as a swift rush of remorse flooded her conscience. Obi-Wan had spoken the truth all along. She had been used. Taken advantage of by her once greatest friend. Sabé fell to her knees and wailed in bitter agony. How could she have done such a thing? How could she have been so foolish?

Padmé calmly walked to her side to pat her shoulder. "There, there, you shouldn't be so hard on yourself. It was an honest mistake."

"You made me kill him!" Sabé brokenly moaned.

"Me?" Padmé pointed to herself. "Why are you blaming me? I didn't make you pull the trigger."

Slowly wiping away her tears, Sabé stood up. "You're right. But I can rectify the situation."

Padmé's eyes bulged as she saw Sabé reach into her cloak for her blaster. Without conscious thought, she pulled out her own weapon and fired. A few strands of lightening erupted, lurching Sabé backwards, knocking the blaster out of her hand. Padmé grimaced as she saw Sabé moving. Looking back at her weapon she noticed that it had not fully recharged.

Her momentary loss of concentration caused her to be knocked onto her back by a solid kick from Sabé. As she hit the ground, she lost grip of her blaster as well. Sabé was about to strike again when Padmé quickly stood up, attempting to run past her. Sabé grabbed Padmé and tossed her away from the weapon.

"I don't think so, Milady," Sabé said with a mocking bow. "You are going to have to fight me with your hands…if you dare."

"I am not afraid of you!"

"You will be."

Using his lightsaber, Darth Vader broke out of the throne room into the office area staffed by Palpatine's lackeys while still carrying his decapitated head. Mas Amedda, who had served the Emperor since his days as Chancellor, immediately rose.

"What is the meaning of this?"

Vader sneered. "As you can see, Palpatine is dead. I want the control codes for both his stormtroopers and crimson guard."

"But..."

At that same moment, Vader pointed the tip end of his blade at Amedda. "Or I could just kill you now."

Mas nodded and quickly turned to the terminal at his desk. After pressing a series of buttons, a small holodisc ejected from the middle of the desk which Amedda handed to Vader. "Insert this into the control panel on the throne and you can reprogram the clones however you wish."

Vader smiled and then curtly nodded. "Thank you." He was about to return to the throne room when he paused. "And by the way, your services are no longer required."

The last thing Mas Amedda and his staff saw were blue streaks of lighting descending upon them as Vader took their lives with practiced ease.

Now sitting upon his throne, Vader inserted the holodisc. A large display retracted and he quickly changed the authorization codes so every troop in the galaxy would respond to him. He had learned several years prior how to counteract these orders for the clones under his command, but Palpatine being the suspicious sort, had several divisions created that responded uniquely.

Now they were all under his control.

Vader then activated his com. "Colonel Veers."

"Yes, my Lord?"

"What is your status?"

"The loyalist troops have stopped firing on us and their commanders are beginning to report to me."

"Very good…" Before Vader could issue more orders, he jolted when he felt a great disturbance in the Force. As he reached out, he unconsciously trembled when he realized that it was centered upon Padmé. Urgently, he ordered, "Colonel, have our troops secure the Imperial Palace. Then send several battalions over the governmental complex. I will be there shortly."

"At once, my Lord."

Vader then activated a panel on the throne which opened a portal back to the underground tunnels. He hoped that he would get to where he was needed before it was too late.

Padmé quickly moved over to the large conference table and hurdled one of the chairs at Sabé. She dodged it and launched herself at her friend. The two women fell to the ground as they lost their footing and rolled about, striking one another. Sabé tried to slam Padmé's head against the floor, but was backhanded across the face, knocking her backwards.

Padmé took advantage and returned to her feet. She pulled out another chair and attempted to break it across Sabé's body when she moved out of the way, causing Padmé to miss. While bent over, Sabé kicked her side sending her hurtling down to the floor again. As she was about to stomp on Padmé's abdomen, Sabé was knocked back when Padmé rolled to her side, pulling her feet out from under her. Stunned from the fall, Sabé didn't realize that Padmé had jumped on top of her until she was striking her with her fists.

Instinctively, she flipped Padmé over her head, knocking her to the floor. Sabé then scurried on her knees towards her fallen blaster. After quickly shaking off her daze, Padmé rose and jumped on her back, knocking her down again. Both women exchanged several strikes to the face causing them to reel backwards from each other. Sabé was the first to return to her feet followed quickly by Padmé.

"Had enough yet, Milady?" Sabé grinned.

"I'm just getting started."

"You can't beat me, Padmé. I've always been stronger than you."

"We shall see," Padmé retorted as she launched herself at Sabé's throat. Anticipating the move, Sabé sidestepped and at the right moment, she kicked Padmé's chest, knocking her against the wall. Padmé's head also struck the partition roughly, causing her feet to collapse from underneath her as she slid to the ground.

Meanwhile, Sabé rushed over to pick up her blaster. Switching the setting to full power, she walked across the room and pointed her weapon at her fallen adversary. "It ends here, Padmé."

Blinking rapidly as she tried to shake off her daze, Padmé looked up at Sabé. "What do you think you are going to do?"

"I've got to stop you."

Rubbing her head, Padmé grinned. "And then what? If you kill me, Anakin will tear the galaxy apart to avenge me. Your family will never know a moment of peace. You will always be worrying, always be looking over your shoulder, waiting for him to find you." Padmé's grin grew. "And you know first hand what he is capable of. Do you really wish that on your family or the galaxy?"

Sabé stood silent. Vader had destroyed the entire Jedi Order to save this woman. They fell at his feet and they could touch the Force yet they couldn't stop him. While she had combat skills, she was no match. The blaster in her hand shook and Padmé slowly returned to her feet. Sabé backed away, lowering her weapon. A knowing grin filled Padmé's face as she lightly chuckled. "I didn't think so."

While she walked to the other side of the room to pick up her blaster, Padmé said, "I never thought that you would actually hit me." Her smile increased. "Perhaps, once you return to my service, I can remind you how a handmaiden should properly behave."

"What?" Sabé asked in disbelief.

Padmé laughed and turned to glance out at the smoldering city. "Oh yes, Lady Kelaria. My new Empire will not require a Grand Inquisitor. But don't fret. You and your family will make excellent servants for mine. I'm sure Leia will delight in having Sienna as her own little handmaiden." Turning around to face Sabé, a sly grin now filled her face. "Remember my friend…you promised."

"Never!" Sabé screamed. Padmé whirled around to see her stalking towards her, her blaster once again pointed at her head. Sabé gritted her teeth as she shouted, "Milady… you should not have come back!"

Running through the underground passages with only the Force to guide him, Vader channeled his energies into making his limbs move faster. The maze of tunnels was vast but he was only several paces away from the governmental bunker. Without hesitation, he used the Force to rip away the massive protective door. Peering in, he screamed, "Where is Lady Amidala?"

Sabé's handmaidens looked at one another before Elermaé nervously answered, "They're in the Inquisitor's office."

Before she could say more, the new Emperor had already run out the door and down the hallway. The Force itself was now screaming its warning of what was about to happen. Vader clenched his teeth together as he resolved that no harm would befall his wife.

Another turn and Vader found himself inside the governmental complex. With the Force now the only thing that kept his legs moving, he attempted to clear his mind as he was about to enter Sabé's office. A series of yells alerted him that they were inside. When Vader passed through the doorway, his heart nearly froze solid when he saw Sabé pointed her blaster at Padmé.

Sabé's hand violently trembled while she took aim at her closest friend. How could she do this? While Padmé had many committed horrible atrocities, it was not her place to act as her executioner. If Sabé truly believed in her principles, Padmé must stand trial so that the system could pronounce its judgment. If she killed her, she was no better than her or Vader. Sabé was about to put down her weapon when Vader stormed into the room. That would be the last thing that she would remember before darkness captured her.

Without thought, Vader summoned the Force which hurdle Sabé across the room, slamming her roughly against the wall. A shriek of pain preceded the loud crash of Sabé's motionless body striking the ground. He immediately ran to Padmé's side and recoiled in anger when he saw her bloodied face. They exchanged brief smiles as he helped her sit on the floor.

"Are you alright, my love?"

Padmé winced as she leaned back against the wall. "I suppose I look worse than I feel."

Vader curtly nodded before closing his eyes. Extending his awareness into the Force, he guided its power from himself into Padmé's body which healed instantly. It had been one of the few powers that he had continued to practice since his departure from the Jedi Order. He had surmised that it was a rather handy skill to possess. When he opened his eyes, Padmé's physical injuries had all disappeared, even though the blood on her face remained.

"Better?"

Padmé stretched her arms and then motioned for him to help her up. "Much. Thank you."

The couple warmly embraced as Vader said, "I was afraid that I was going to lose you."

"Impossible," Padmé answered, slightly withdrawing from his embrace. "There is nothing in this universe that can take me away from you." She then shook her head quickly. "But enough fretting about me, what about you? Was your mission successful?"

Vader's lopsided grin grew before he fell to his knees. He gathered her right hand in both of his and said, "My Queen… my Empress… I give you your kingdom."

A large smile momentarily eclipsed Padmé's face. She then pulled her hand away and motioned for Anakin to stand. "You kneel to no one, my love. I will only rule with you at my side, as my equal."

"Anything for you, my Empress."

They once again embraced and while in Vader's arms, Padmé turned her attention to Sabé's still body. "Is she dead?"

Vader reluctantly released her to check on her would be attacker. "No, she's alive, but severely injured. She won't survive for much longer." He then withdrew his lightsaber and was about to activate it when Padmé tugged on his mechanical arm.

"No, my love."

He quizzically gazed at her. "She's dead anyway. Despite what happened, she deserves an honorable death."

Padmé shook her head and knowingly smiled. "No. I have something else in mind that would be far more…suitable."

"As you wish, my Empress."

Only a short Epilogue remains. Thanks for reading!