Across the Stars: A Cinderella Story

A/N: Wow, you guys are awesome!! Thanks to everyone who reviewed! For those of you who guessed it was our favorite Jedi Knight, Anakin Skywalker... well, congrats to you! Give yourselves a pat on the back and enjoy the cookies I'm giving you, lol. Also, I have a new idea for another Anakin/Padme story!! I was planning to make this Ani/Padme series a trilogy, with three different fairy tales. I have an idea for a second Ani/Padme story after this, one that I believe hasn't been done before. I was thinking of using... dun dun DUN!: Pocahontas!! That's different, hm? I'm pretty sure how I would work it out, but I need your feedback!!

Disc: Already told you. See some other chapter.

Chapter Five

Padmé glared at the mysterious hooded figure. "Well, excuse me," she snapped, standing up and yanking her arm away from his grasp.

The figure could tell she was annoyed, and he replied, "Calm down, milady. I didn't mean to offend you." He held up his hands in self-defense.

"A little late for that, seeing as how you already did," she shot back, pulling her hood back over her face.

The man studied her for a moment. "I'm sorry, milady," he said coolly, in a voice that Padmé knew wasn't very sorry at all. "Forgive me for committing such a heinous crime."

Padmé rolled her eyes at his sarcastic tone. She unconsciously gripped the apple that she was still holding harder, and a sudden idea came to her. She grinned evilly and turned, taking a few steps backward.

Before the man knew what was happening, the apple hurled through the air and knocked him to the ground, causing him to fall right on his back. Padmé snatched a few more out of her basket and threw them at him as well; she then darted away into the streets, grinning. "Take that!" she shouted over her shoulder, the wind blowing wisps of hair into her face.

The man stood up quickly, growled, and saw the girl racing through the plaza. Quick taken aback at her impudent temper, he rushed after her. Pushing past the startled people in the square, the figure followed her into a small patch of woods on the far side of the town, determined not to let her get away from him.

Padmé ran through the woods and glanced over her shoulder, eyes widening as she saw the hooded person keeping up with her fast pace. Shocked at his stubbornness, she shook her head and raced through the woods into a large field, which was surrounded by the river and thundering waterfalls. A herd of shaaks was grazing, but she took no notice of them.

The man, however, did notice the animals; and he leapt, almost superhuman-like, onto one of them, digging his heels in and spurred it forth after her. But just when he thought that he was finally going to catch up to her, she abruptly whisked around and pitched another apple at him.

"AH!" he tumbled off of the shaak, being hit with an expertly aimed shot by Padmé. She grinned, pulled out another apple, and got ready to hit him again.

"This will teach you not to play games with me!" she declared, hitting him in the foot with another fruit.

"OW!" he cried, stumbling, "No, wait, I didn't mean–" This was met with another apple on the chest.

"Did you think," she shouted, hurling apples at him, as he was trying to hide behind the shaak, "that you could," another apple zoomed at him, "talk to me like that?" She let fly the final apple, sending him stumbling to the ground.

"Augh!" he yelled, and stood up abruptly, thrashing around in his cloak. His hood fell back and he glared furiously at Padmé, who stopped dead in her tracks and stared at him.

"Who are you?" she asked uncertainly, getting an uncanny feeling that this man was not just an average Naboo citizen.

"I'm a Jedi," the man snapped, eyeing her angrily, slowly coming towards her. "And I suppose you think you're terribly clever."

Padmé stiffened. She wasn't about to back down to this person, no matter who he was. "I don't think I'm terribly clever, I know I'm terribly clever," she retorted stubbornly, folding over her arms, straightening her back.

The two glared at each other for a moment.

"Do you even know who you're talking to?" the man coldly demanded.

"I don't care," Padmé sniffed sullenly. And she honestly didn't. The man, though she grudgingly had to admit, was incredibly handsome. He had longish curly blonde hair, a strong, tall body, good-sized muscles, and a sturdy jaw line. He gazed at her with deep blue eyes for a second, as if not believing that she was talking to him in such a disrespectful way.

"I am Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker," he stated. "A member of the Jedi Council and a defender of the Galactic Republic."

Padmé couldn't help it, but she paled a bit, shocked. "I see," was all she could muster.

"And you are?"

Feeling very annoyed at his arrogance, no matter how handsome or completely gorgeous he happened to be, she lifted her head up and replied, "Padmé, handmaiden of Theed Palace. Master Jedi," she mocked, pretending to curtsey to him.

Anakin clenched his teeth, anger growing. He had never met a more stubborn girl in his life before. Actually, apart from the Jedi women, this was the only one who didn't throw herself at him. It was refreshing, but also infuriating. He didn't know what to make of her.

"I could have you arrested for talking to me that way," Anakin said threateningly.

Padmé feigned being terrified. "Oh, no, what ever will I do?" she squealed in a high-pitched voice, putting her hand to her throat.

That was enough for Anakin. "Fine, be that way," he spat, turning around to leave.

"Thanks, I will," she snapped back, glad to see him go.

The two strode away in different directions, Padmé heading towards the river, and Anakin back to Theed City.

Padmé stopped after a few steps, sighed, and turned around, realizing that she had to go back the way the nasty Jedi was headed. She rolled her eyes and began to walk in his direction.

He glanced back, sensing her presence following him, and couldn't help but smirk. "Couldn't bear to get away from my awe-inspiring presence, milady?" he asked, turning back to her.

If looks could kill, he'd be dead.

"Get over yourself, you bantha-brained idiot," Padmé hissed. She brushed past him, fuming.

Anakin stared after her, shaking his head in disbelief. The two parted a few minutes later, and Padmé quickly turned to go in another direction. But as she trod along the street, she couldn't help but feel two eyes gazing after her.

Meanwhile, Artoo rolled around the palace, picking up larger scraps of material and any other trinkets that he could find to help make Padmé look even more beautiful than she already was. He came to one of the sister's rooms, and heard them arguing… yet again.

"That's ugly!"

"Shut up!"

"I don't want that, it's not in style anymore!"

"SHUT UP!"

Artoo beeped indignantly, affronted, as some objects were hurled at his top. The sisters had thrown away some extra jewels, bows, and other decorations. Things that he could definitely use! He picked them up and brought everything he had found back to Padmé, who had just gotten back and was overjoyed at his findings.

"Thank you so much, Artoo, you're the best astro droid a girl could wish for." Even though I'm doing all this hard work for a ball that celebrates a complete jerk! Though he was a really cute jerk… She shook her head, brushing away the thoughts. She was going to have herself a good time for once in her life without having to answer to her stepmother.

The little droid whistled, which she could only distinguish as an embarrassed noise. If droids could blush, he would be right now.

"Now to start working on it," she mused, and took out her machine.

For the next two days, Padmé worked steadily on her dress, while also doing extra chores and errands for the Queen and her daughters. She was also rudely awakened to help the daughters put their dresses on and do their hair. Of course there were plenty other servants around to do it, but they wanted her. Why?

"To make me do all the work," she muttered as she muttered, hauling a bunch of droid scraps to the repair shop. She entered inside and found Paddy and a few other customers.

"Hey, sweetheart," Paddy said cheerfully, smiling kindly at her, "whaddaya got for me t'day?"

One of the customers glanced, uninterested, at the open entryway, and did a double take when he saw whom it was that was coming inside.

Padmé lugged the exceptionally heavy box of droid parts up to the counter and plopped it down on top.

"Ugh!" she groaned, "Just the regular stuff, and a bit extra. Also, I found something you might like." She held out a certain droid piece that cost a lot of credits.

Paddy took it from her and eyed it keenly. "Wow, a nice little power circuit ya got here, hun," he said, "Whad'ya want for it?"

She shrugged. "I'll take five credits," she replied, "That's a reasonable price."

A snort coming from the right made her turn sharply. To her utter surprise and displeasure, Anakin Skywalker was standing there, cloaked yet again.

"What?" she rudely questioned, temper rising. Paddy gave her a strange glance, as she had never spoken to anyone like that before.

"Reasonable?" Anakin echoed, coming towards her. "I could make one of those myself. They're not worth four credits." He held the part up, examining it.

Padmé's eyes flashed dangerously. "Then make one yourself, nerf-herder," she spat, and whisked around, pushing the box towards Paddy. "I'll pick up the money later," she said, "When I'm not being bothered by this high-and-mighty person. Have a nice day, Paddy." She smiled sweetly and marched out the door.

Paddy glanced at Anakin, who seemed to be in deep thought. The Jedi strode out of the store, following Padmé out.

"Hey, wait a second," Anakin called, hurrying to catch up to Padmé.

Padmé turned around and glared at him. "Why are you still here?" she shouted.

Anakin quickly jogged to catch up to her and put a hand on her arm. "Listen," he began, "I know we got off on the wrong foot, but could you at least try to get along with me?"

"I'm not the one who makes rude remarks to an innocent Handmaiden and insults her," Padmé retorted stiffly.

Anakin rolled his eyes and sighed. "Fine, I'm sorry that I was so rude to you yesterday. But you were the one who bumped into me in the first place, and you threw a ton of hard apples at me!"

"Oh, you poor thing," Padmé said dryly, "I thought you supposed to be a Jedi! In any case, you were standing right behind me, leaving me no space to turn!"

"Well, you should have watched where you were turning."

"And you, sir," Padmé got right into his face, "Should have watched where you were standing."

Anakin seemed to deflate at her rebuttal, and to her surprise, he broke out into a handsome grin that would cause most women to swoon. "Touché, milady," he answered, nodding.

Enough for that chapter. Hope you liked it!! I won't know if you don't review! Hint hint! Too bad I can't ask for more presents, lol...