Across the Stars: A Cinderella Story

A/N: Yes, yes, I know... (ducks flying rotten tomatoes and cabbages) I'm sorry for not updating sooner! But you know, computers and all... well, here's the next chapter, with Anakin coming up soon!

Disclaimer: If I owned Star Wars... things would've happened much differently.

Chapter 3

Padmé returned home, where she found Sabé and Sola trying on some new clothes they had just bought.

"Padmé! Oh PADMÉ!" Sola shrieked, swinging a strand of pearls around her fingers.

Padmé walked in, carrying a load of laundry. "What is it?' she asked calmly.

"Make sure that my evening gown is ready for tomorrow's banquet," her stepsister snapped, "And DO hurry up about it!"

Padmé sighed, wondering why in the world she was putting up with this nonsense. "Fine," she replied tiredly, "Where is it?"

"It's in the closet. Go and get it!" Sola turned to her mirror, holding up one of her many dresses. She wrinkled her nose and tossed it onto her bed. It lay there on top of at least twenty other gowns Sola had decided not to wear.

"But Sola," Padmé began, "I don't know which gown you're talking about. You have more than one evening gown."

Sabé, who had been forgotten in the background for a moment, rolled her eyes and joined into the conversation. "Never mind, you stupid girl, I'll get it!" she flounced into the extremely large closet and pulled out a very extravagant gown.

Padmé caught the very heavy dress as her stepsister threw it at her. "Oh, this one," she stated with fake cheerfulness. "Thanks." Before she left, she halted, musing about something.

"What in Naboo's name is it now, girl?" Sola screeched, glaring furiously at her. "Why are you still here, standing stupidly for no good reason?"

"I was wondering," Padmé started, ignoring Sola's comments, "What is this banquet for, anyways?"

The sisters glanced at each other before bursting into annoying, high-pitched laughter.

"Of course she wouldn't know!" Sabé tittered, covering her mouth.

"The ignorant fool," Sola chuckled.

Padmé had had enough. "Well of COURSE I don't know!" she cried, irritated, "I never hear anything that's going on because I'm always working! Slaving away for YOU!"

The sisters stared at her, blinking.

"What did you just say?" Sola asked threateningly, starting towards Padmé.

The princess-turned-handmaiden stood her ground, determined. "I said, no," she firmly continued, "I don't know what's going on because I'm never informed of anything. I'm always doing some kind of chore. So would you be so kind as to inform me of what you are celebrating?"

Sabé sighed dreamily. "It's about the handsome young hero," she answered wistfully, "The Jedi Knight, Anakin Skywalker." At that point, the two sisters sighed together, putting their hands over their hearts delicately. Padmé fought the urge to snort. "And anyways, he just defeated that awful Sith lord… oh what's his name…" Sabé thought hard.

"Darth Sidious?" Padmé gasped, shocked. "They found him?" She had heard faint rumors about a Sith lord in disguise, but she hadn't known they had actually found him!

Sabé's eyes lit up. "Yes, that's the one!" she went on," So everyone's going to celebrate."

"The hero with no fear," Sola said distantly. "Oh, he's SO handsome…"

"His perfect blue eyes…" Sabé joined in, "His thick, luscious, sandy blonde hair…" She clasped her hands together; and the two of them stared into space, thinking about the young Jedi Knight.

Padmé stared at them, clearly unimpressed. "Yeah… well, I'd loved to stand around chatting about this guy, but I have work to finish. I'll see you two at dinner." She turned to leave.

Sola sniffed. "Very well, be along with you, then. You wouldn't even know half of the things Anakin's done."

"He's my hero," Sabé sang, beginning to twirl around the room. Sola glared at her and abruptly threw a pillow at her face, knocking her to the ground.

"Ouch!" Sabé shrieked, "That hurt, Sola!"

Padmé turned and strode out of the room, shaking her head as she listened to the sisters bicker. Her laundry basket was piled high, but luckily for her, a droid came by, so she dumped her basket into its arms. All her thoughts were on Sidious's death. She was happy that he was destroyed, but she also wondered if had a real name or not. Peeping into the archive rooms, she slipped in and sat down to an archive holoscreen, researching Darth Sidious. The file popped up, glaring at her. She stared at it, shocked.

Darth Sidious – also known as Supreme Chancellor Palpatine

Home world – Naboo

Current state – Deceased - Killed by Anakin Skywalker

It was Chancellor Palpatine?! She was very familiar with that name, but never suspected the leader of the Republic to be the Sith lord the Jedi had been looking for. To be honest, she had only met the man twice, but she had been very young and didn't remember him much. Well, now that he was dead, the Republic could rest in peace.

"Padmé, what are you doing in here?" a sharp, accusing voice startled her out of her reverie. Padmé looked up to see her stepmother glaring at her.

"Oh, I was just doing some research," she replied. "I find it hard to believe that Chancellor Palpatine was the Sith lord."

Jobal strode around the desk and shut off the holo. "Indeed," she began in a frightening tone. Padmé knew she was in deep trouble. "But you should know not to concern yourself with these matters, Padmé."

"I…." Padmé said hesitantly.

Jobal leaned forward. "You're not the queen. You're not a princess anymore. You don't own anything. You don't control or rule anyone. You don't make any decisions, and you don't make laws or motions. You're not a politician, or a senator, or anyone of importance. You're a peasant girl, working for me. Do you understand?"

Padmé stiffened and returned the glare the Queen was giving her. "Yes, Your Highness," She answered in a quiet tone, masking the fury she was feeling. She abruptly leapt out of the chair and stormed out of the room.

Slamming the door shut behind her, she paced around her small, plain room, fuming. She didn't notice Artoo until he turned himself on, beeping quietly.

"Oh, hi Artoo," Padmé acknowledged, calming herself down. "I'm sorry, I didn't know you were in here. I thought you were downstairs."

Artoo whistled a reply.

"Aw, thanks," Padmé smiled. "That's really nice of you." Shaking her head, she then muttered, "Nicer than most people I know."

Well, that's that chapter... please leave a review and tell me what you think!! Anakin is coming up shortly!!