Padme and Caroline rode Armorous into the woods as the sky began to turn dark again.

"This is the last place I recall seeing Ruwee and Jobal." Armorous said stopping for a moment to light his horn.

Padme called for her parents. Only her echo answered.

"Mr. and Mrs. Naberrie." Caroline called.

Eventually, the trio came across a familiar gate, and Padme spotted something. A hat.

Padme got down and entered the gate and picked up the hat.

"Daddy." she gasped.


"Mommy! Daddy!" hopped the little teacup, whose name was Boba. "I saw girls in the castle!"

Zam was getting the tub ready for her son, with a little help from the suit of armor named Jango, Zam's husband.

"Boba, no making up wild stories." Jango said. "You know how your mother feels about you being clean."

"But, Daddy. I saw them."

"Into the tub with you, young man." Zam said as Jango picked Boba up and placed him into the soapy water.

That was when a feather duster named Satine came along.

"Zam! Jango! There are two girls in the castle!" Satine said cheerfully.

Boba popped out from the water.

"Told ya." said the teacup.


"I'm not so sure how I feel about all of this." Mace said.

"I'm not completely on board with this idea either," said Obi-Wan. "But his Highness says this may be the only way."

Just then, the candelabra and clock heard some new voices.

"Hello? Mom? Dad?" called Padme.

"Ruwee. Jobal. Are you here?" Caroline called.

Mace and Obi-Wan stood still and glanced into the hall, where they saw not one, but two girls.

Obi-Wan quietly hopped off and peered into the hall.

"Two girls." Obi-Wan said.

"I know they're girls," said Mace.

"Either one of them could be the one we've been waiting for. The one to break the spell."

Obi-Wan hopped after the two of them, but Mace didn't think rushing was such a good idea.


The girls continued to look around and call for Padme's parents.

"Padme?" said a familiar voice.

"Mom?" Padme gasped. "Where are you?"

"Over here, Dear." Jobal's voice called from another room.

"Padme, be careful." Ruwee called. "This place might not be safe."

"I'm coming for you, Father." Padme said.

Padme soon arrived at a door, and she opened it. And in that room, Padme was happily surprised to see her parents alive and sitting on a loveseat.

"Is she the daughter you spoke of?" said a deep voice in the dark, which frightened the girls for a moment.

Padme looked to her left to see a figure in the shadows.

"Who are you?" Padme asked.

"I am Prince Anakin Gabriel Skywalker-Jinn. The master of this castle." said the figure. "And who are you girls?"

"I am Padme Naberrie." Padme said. "And this is my friend Caroline Mitchell. We've come for my parents."

"They will remain unharmed." Anakin said. "I have no intention of harming them in any way. But if they wish to leave this castle, I require one thing in return."

Padme didn't seem that surprised. Many did tend to ask for some form of payment for helping someone.

"What do you want?" Padme asked.

"You. To live here." Anakin said. "Stay here with me and I shall care for you."

Padme wasn't so sure about that deal. She couldn't even see the figure's face.

"Come into the light." Padme said.

The figure seemed hesitant at first. But, he complied. Into the light, the figure came, and it showed he was in all black leather from the shoulders down. His hands were covered by black gloves, he also had parts that looked like black armor, and black hair that reached down to his shoulders. The lower half of his very pale face was covered by a mask of some sort that appeared to be the source of his deep voice, and he had a terrifyingly huge scar over his right eye. His eyes a crystal blue.

At first, Padme gasped at his intimidating appearance. But when she looked at his eyes, he could see sincerity in them. And, it was clear her parents were okay.

"If I stay here... you'll let my parents leave?" Padme asked.

"I give you my solemn promise, Ms. Naberrie."

"Wait. If you wanna take Padme, you'll have to take me too." Caroline said. She wasn't so sure she trusted anyone around here. Trading a girl for freedom like she was money just sounded degrading to her on so many levels, and she did not intend to leave her friend there to be hurt.

"Very well. You may stay as well." Anakin said. "You have five minutes to say your goodbyes."

And the prince left to prepare the carriage.

Padme hugged her parents and cried.

"Padme, we can't let you do this!" Jobal said.

"I have to, Mom." Padme said. "I can't let you be prisoners here."

"Padme..." Ruwee said, not knowing if there were any right words for now. Except for... "I love you so much."

"I love you too, Father." Padme shed a tear.

Jobal looked at Caroline. "You'll look after her, won't you?"

"Of course, Jobal." Caroline promised. "I'll care for Padme like my own sister."

Anakin soon had Padme's parents brought to a carriage he ordered to escort them to the village.

Padme sadly waved goodbye as her parents departed.

Anakin placed a hand on each girl's shoulder.

"My brother and I will show you to your rooms." Anakin said.

"You have a brother?" Caroline said, surprised.

That was when another figure entered the scene. However, this one looked different. This one was a humanoid with big feathery wings like an eagle and bushy mane and face like a lion. In other words, he looked almost like a human-griffin hybrid of some sort.

"Ladies, meet my twin brother Carmine." Anakin said.

"Madame." Carmine flashed a smile at Caroline, only to accidentally growl. "Sorry. Can't always control that."


And so, each of the girls was escorted to a different room in the castle. Anakin held Obi-Wan to light the hallway.

"The castle is your home now," said Anakin. "So, you can go anywhere you want, except in the West Wing."

"What's in the West Wing?" Padme asked.

"Trust me when I tell you, you don't wanna know." Carmine said. "All I can say, is when there's a full moon, and you hear noise from there, don't even think about giving into curiosity."

"Bottom line, it is forbidden." Anakin finished. "I hope you will both be comfortable here. If you need anything at all, my servants will attend to you."

Obi-Wan then whispered to Anakin. "Invite her to dinner."

Anakin cleared his throat and then said, "We would be honored if you would join us for dinner tonight. Make yourself at home."

And Anakin shut the door.

Padme probably should've felt relieved that these intimidating-looking fellows were actually fairly gentle, but instead she lay face-down on her bed and cried, missing her family, not knowing when or if she would see them again. And her biggest question was why the first beast even wanted her.


Carmine escorted Caroline to her room.

"You are a beautiful woman," said Carmine, finding Caroline attractive. "Do you like music?"

"I chose to stay here to watch over my friend." Caroline answered, not giving into the attempt at flirting. "I may not look like a beast on the outside as you do, but try anything to hurt my friend, I will make you fear me."

"Wow... feisty." Carmine purred. "Suddenly, you're even more attractive."

Caroline wasn't sure if she should be flattered or worried. And despite Carmine's furry face, she could tell he appeared to be blushing as he backed out of the room, only to bump into the door before finding the actual way out.

"Ahem. Well... I hope you will join us for dinner." Carmine said. "We haven't had guests in a while."

Anakin told Obi-Wan and the other servants to ensure a perfect banquet was prepared.

"We need these girls both impressed." Anakin stressed. "If either is to break the spell, they must be shown a great deal of happiness."

"Not to worry, Anakin." Obi-Wan said. "Tonight will be a night the girls shall remember forever."

"By the time we're through, one of them is bound to fall in love with you." Jango said.

"As much as I would like that," said Anakin. "I don't think it will happen that fast. However, we must speed this as much as possible, what with how soon that rose will lose another petal."