Mas Amedda grumbled to himself as he carried the two spoiled twins' bags. It didn't help that folks here felt scared when they saw non-human folk in their streets. Fortunately, he had a badge that proved he worked for the royal family of Coruscant, so he was safe.
"I swear, if they were my children..." Amedda grumbled. "They would get some serious disciplining from me!"
"You need a hand there, buddy?" asked a passerby.
Amedda soon came by where there was a band, and the twins were dancing about, having fun.
"You go, Carmine! Let it out!" Anakin said as his twin broke out into a fun dance routine while he was being adored by some pretty girls.
"Sires! I have been looking everywhere for you!" Amedda said, walking in.
Anakin laughed and said, "What a coincidence, Amedda. I have been avoiding you everywhere."
"We're going to be late for the masquerade."
"Listen, Amedda. Listen." said Anakin. "Carmine's gone on and on about how jazz is supposed to be fun... and he was right. Dance with me, blue friend!"
Anakin pulled Amedda in to dance.
"Sire! We're supposed to be at the Mitchell estate by now!" Amedda said.
Carmine caught sight of a clock and said, "Oh man! He's right! We're gonna be so late!"
And Carmine got on his horse and got her to start running to get him to the estate.
"Yes, yes, yes, but first I buy everyone here a drink!" Anakin declared as the crowd cheered.
"With what?" Amedda said. "At this point, you have two choices, woo and marry a rich young lady or get a job."
Amedda pointed out to a man cleaning up animal poo. Anakin groaned in disgust.
"All right. Fine." said Anakin. "But first we dance!"
Anakin got right back to messing around and dancing with Amedda until he spun him too fast and accidentally got the poor guy stuck in a tuba.
"Oh, this is too perfect!" Anakin laughed. "You finally got into the music. You get my joke?"
"Get me out!" Amedda demanded.
"Okay, okay. Hold one." Anakin took Amedda's legs while the tuba player grabbed his instrument. "One..."
And one pull, Amedda was out. Anakin was laughing, but Amedda was not the least bit amused.
"How degrading!" Amedda said. "I've never been so humiliated."
And that was when the two men were approached by a strange man they had never seen before. He was dressed in black, purple, and red, with a top hat with a skull and crossbones symbol on it.
"Gentlemen!" greeted Dr. Palpatine. He tipped his hat. "Au chante. A tip of the hat from Dr. Palpatine."
Palpatine gave Anakin his business card, which the young prince read.
"Tarot readings, charms, potions, dreams made real."
"Were I a betting man, and I am not." said Palpatine. "I stay away from games of chance."
"Sire!" Amedda said. At this point, now that he'd lost Carmine, he figured he might as well go after the more reckless prince first.
Palpatine brought Anakin into a dark alley and seduced him into coming to his workshop.
"I would wager I am in the company of visiting royalty." said Palpatine.
Anakin was surprised and impressed.
"Amedda! This remarkable gentleman just read my palm." said Anakin.
"Or this morning's newspaper." Amedda pointed out.
"Sire!" Amedda whispered. "This man is obviously a charlatan. I suggest we move on to a less..."
Palpatine:
Don't you disrespect me big blue man!
Don't you derogate or deride!
Palpatine ignited torches on a door with a sign that said Dr. Palpatine's Voodoo Emporium
You're in my world now
Not your world
And I got friends on the other side!
An echo came from inside the door as it opened by itself
That's an echo, gentlemen
Just a little something we have here in Galaxy Isles
A little parlor trick. Don't worry
Palpatine had the two take a seat at a table as some shadows took their hats and coats, the shadows taking on many shapes and sizes.
Sit down at my table
Put your minds at ease
If you relax it will enable me to do anything I please
I can read your future
I can change it 'round some, too
I'll look deep into your heart and soul
(You do have a soul, don't you, Amedda?)
Make your wildest dreams come true!
He showed the prince and his valet some of his many trinkets. Voodoo dolls, cursed objects, a dark chalice, and scary-looking masks. It looked like either a dark wizard's workshop or a really well done Halloween store in there
I got voodoo, I got hoodoo
I got things I ain't even tried!
And I got friends on the other side
Masks: He's got friends on the other side
Even Anakin had to admit, that was creepy.
Palpatine then took out some cards and did a few magician-like tricks with them before holding them out to the men.
The cards, the cards, the cards will tell
The past, the present, and the future as well!
The cards, the cards, just take three
Take a little trip into your future with me!
Palpatine started with Anakin's past and present.
Now you, young man, are from across the sea
You come from two long lines of royalty
I'm a royal myself on my mother's side
Your lifestyle's high
But your funds are low
You need to marry a lil' honey whose daddy got dough!
Mom and dad cut you off, huh playboy?
"I wouldn't call myself a playboy," said Anakin. "But I am definitely short on cash."
Palpatine:
Now you gotta get hitched, but hitchin' ties you down
You just wanna be free
Hop from place to place
But freedom takes green!
Palpatine moved his hand over the cards, turning them into green credits.
It's the green, it's the green, it's the green you need
And when I looked into your future
It's the green that I see!
Palpatine turned the card and showed Anakin a picture of himself laying on a lily pad made of credits. And then the shadow guy turned to the prince's valet.
On you little man, I don't wanna waste much time
You been pushed around all your life
You been pushed around by your
Mother and your sister and your brother
And if you was married
You'd be pushed around by your wife
But in your future, the you I see
Is exactly the man you always wanted to be!
Amedda looked at his future card, and it showed the roles being reversed between him and the princes.
Shake my hand
Come on boys
Won't you shake the poor sinner's hand?
Anakin was hesitant, but Amedda shook Palpatine's hand without hesitation.
A bunch of voodoo dolls and masks began singing and banging drums as a final ritual began. Two snakes tied themselves around Anakin in the chair, the poor prince strugglung to get free.
Yes
Are you ready?
(Are you ready?)
Are you ready?
Transformation central!
(Transformation central!)
Reformation central!
(Reformation central!)
Transmogrification central!
Palpatine took out a voodoo amulet and had it bite Anakin's finger to take some of his blood.
"AGH!" Anakin cried.
And that was when magic started to surround Anakin, transforming him, even to Amedda's terrific shock!
Can you feel it?
You're changin', You're changin', You're changin', all right!
I hope you're satisfied
But if you ain't
Don't blame me!
You can blame my friends on the other side!
(You got what you wanted)
(But you lost what you had)