Across the Stars: A Cinderella Story
By Serena Kenobi
Author's notes: Once again, thanks for the reviews! I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars, but I do own Elena. Whups, wrong story.
Chapter Seven
Jobal was all ready to go, face painted, wearing a regal and traditional Nubian Queen dress. She smiled as she saw her daughters, who really looked rather stupid. But as soon as they were ready to head off for the ship…
"Wait for me, I'm coming!" Padmé called, running towards them as fast as she could in the shoes she was wearing, which was very hard.
The three women stared at her. Padmé's dress was beautiful. It was silver, black, and dark blue, with silver beading and decorating all around. Her hair was done up in a metal headdress she had found and redone.
"How did you make that?" Sola screamed furiously, glaring daggers at her.
Padmé frowned. "With lots of hard work and determination," she shot back, angry.
Jobal came forward slowly, eyeing her with an evil look on her face. She seemed to be scheming something again. "Girls, it is a nice dress," she stated. "Observe closely. Take a good look at it."
The two sisters walked towards her, gazing at the dress distastefully. Suddenly, Sabé gasped.
"That's my hair piece," she shouted, and snatched it off of Padmé.
"And that's my necklace," Sola added, yanking it off hard. The two of them began naming things that were supposedly theirs and pulled it off of a dejected and astonished Padmé.
"No, I made this!" she cried, "Stop!"
But the damage was soon done. Her dress was left in rags and her hair a mess, silky chestnut curls dangling rebelliously in front of her hurt but beautiful face.
"How could you do that," she sobbed, "I worked so hard on this, and now you've ruined it!"
Jobal stared at her coldly. "That's what you get for thinking you could steal my daughter's things. You know your place now." She then strode off to the Nubian cruiser, girls in tow. Padmé watched as the ship rose in the air and zoomed off into the evening sky.
Tears ran down Padmé's face, and she slowly walked back inside the palace, disappointed beyond belief. She didn't notice a stealthy shadow creeping along the walls of the palace.
"WHOA!" Padmé cried as she was abruptly yanked into a dark corner. "What the… who are– mmmpph!" her question was muffled by a hand over her mouth. The assailant moved into the light, only to reveal…
"Aayla Secura!" Padmé gasped, shocked, "What in Force's name are you doing here? Shouldn't you be at Coruscant by now?"
Aayla grinned, eyes sparkling. "You didn't think I'd let the future Queen of Naboo stranded without a ride to the ball, did I?" she said.
Padmé raised her eyebrows. "H-how did you find out about me?" she hesitantly asked.
"Easy. I looked it up on the archives," the Jedi snorted. "You should be in charge, Padmé. Or should I say, Your Highness."
"I haven't been called that for a long time," Padmé said sadly, "And no one cares to remember. In fact, my stepmother made it a point for everyone to forget about me. Most people don't even know I exist anymore."
Aayla frowned. "We're going to do something about that," she spoke up firmly, "But come on, enough of this talk. Let's get you ready for the ball!"
She pulled Padmé across the plaza to where a private Nubian ship was held. It was sleek, streamlined, and beautiful.
"Where did you get that?" Padmé said, taking it all in. "It's gorgeous!"
"I have my ways," The Jedi grinned. "Get in, we have to hurry!"
Padmé looked at herself.
"I don't have anything to wear, Aayla," she reminded her friend. The Jedi stared at her, blinking.
"Oh yeah." Aayla studied her for a moment before saying, "I have an idea. Come on!"
The two ran off back to the palace, where Aayla threw open Jobal's closet drawers and began searching through it.
"What are you doing?" Padmé inquired.
Aayla pulled out a trunk that was locked, and Padmé turned as pale as a sheet.
"You can't… you don't mean to actually have me wear that!" she gasped. "That's the dress worn by the first Queen ever of Naboo! Do you even know how old it is?"
The Jedi shrugged. "Oh well, now it's going to be worn again. Here, put it on." Aayla handed it to Padmé, who gingerly put it on. "Now for your hair." The Jedi delicately placed the tiara on her head and put some little flowers in it. Then she put up Padmé's hair in two buns, but letting some hair stay down, so it curled gently around her forehead and neck. Aayla then stepped back to admire her.
"Can I look now?" Padmé asked nervously. Aayla nodded, smiling. When Padmé turned and looked at herself in the mirror, she nearly doubled over in shock. She couldn't believe that that was the same person.
"You look absolutely jaw dropping," Aayla grinned, "Just wait till Anakin sees you!!"
Padmé touched the dress uncertainly. "Just wait till my stepfamily sees me," She muttered. "They're going to have a fit. Do you realize I could be put in prison because of this?" she demanded, turning to Aayla.
"Hey, I read the rules on the archives," the Jedi retorted, "It states that the heir to the throne of Naboo can wear it, but only on the most special occasion."
"Like the coronation for the Queen," Padmé glared.
Aayla shrugged again. "The Coruscant ball is the next best thing. I'm sure it doesn't matter."
"Then why didn't one of the sisters wear it?" Padmé asked, more to herself.
Aayla snorted. "Because they couldn't decide which one should wear it." At Padmé's confused glance, she continued, "I read their minds a few hours ago and found out. You were busy doing something else when it happened."
"Oh," Padmé replied, surprised. "Well, thank you so much for helping me."
"No problem, Your Highness," Aayla replied, "Here, wear this cloak over the dress so no one will recognize you." She handed her a flaming colored handmaiden's cloak, which Padmé quickly pulled on over the dress.
"Now for the shoes," Aayla continued, taking out two small hand-crafted glass slippers. Padmé's eyes widened even more.
"I'm not sure I can wear these," she whispered. "They're my mothers… before she died. I thought they had been thrown away by Jobal's orders!"
Aayla smiled. "It is only right, then, that you should wear them," she said, and handed them to Padmé, who touched them before slowly putting them on. "Now don't lose them," she chuckled.
The two of them stole away onto the ship and raced into the night sky.
"Listen, Padmé," Aayla spoke once they were in hyperspace, "I don't know how much time you'll have. Your stepfamily won't be staying there forever, cause it's very likely that Skywalker will not choose one of your stepsisters to be his bride."
Padmé nodded. "I understand."
"However, it's very likely he'll notice you," Aayla went on, giving Padmé a sideways glance.
The young princess looked down. "I doubt that," she replied quietly. "He won't even know me. He just knows an unknown handmaiden."
Aayla shrugged. "Whatever you say, Princess," she retorted, deciding to let Padmé think whatever she wanted.
The Nubian ship that contained Aayla, Padmé, and Artoo, who had wisely stowed away, landed next to the Jedi Temple at around nine o'clock that evening. Padmé got out, still disguised as a handmaiden, and Aayla and Artoo followed.
"When I go in, I would like you to be next to me," Padmé told Aayla. "I'd feel very self conscious if I went in by myself."
Aayla gave her a knowing smile. "Of course, Padmé," she replied amiably. She then gave Artoo a secretive wink, to which Artoo gave a little beeping laugh. Padmé turned around.
"What?" She asked him, confused. Artoo whistled innocently. Padmé narrowed her eyes but continued inside.
The Jedi temple was gigantic, and had Padmé completely awed by its splendor and magnificence. She had never seen anything like it before, and kept spinning around to look at everything.
"Padmé, you'll wear yourself out," Aayla laughed, observing her young friend.
"It doesn't matter…" the forgotten Princess trailed off, "This place is absolutely amazing!"
A sudden strange voice brought her out of her thoughts. "Welcome back, Knight Secura," it said.
The two turned to see a little green alien coming towards them on a hovercraft. He studied Padmé carefully, as if he knew all about her. She dropped her eyes to the floor.
"Lady Amidala, you must be," he said, though she knew that he knew who she really was.
"Yes, sir," she said softly.
Aayla came up next to her and bowed. "Master Yoda, an honor to see you again. May I ask why you are not with everyone else in the main ball room?"
Yoda chuckled. "You may," he said, smiling, "Wise I felt it was, to welcome back one of the Jedi Order's finest knights. Also, a pleasure it was to welcome Her Royal Highness, the Princess of Naboo."
Padmé looked up at him. "Have we ever met before, Master Yoda?" she asked. "I'm sorry if I don't remember."
Yoda nodded. "Met we have," he affirmed. "Long ago, when very young were you. Strong and brave you are, young one. Proud of the woman you have become, I am."
"Thank you, Master," Padmé blushed, "It's my greatest honor to be here."
Yoda smiled at her and patted her shoulder. "Take care, both of you," he said, and hovered back into the main room.
Padmé took in a deep breath as the two girls became closer to the entrance of the ballroom.
"I can't do this," Padmé said frantically, "It's too much."
"Yes you can," Aayla argued, steering her towards the entrance, "Go!"
Before Padmé knew what was happening, she was shoved into the entrance of the ballroom. Knowing that she was only prolonging the inevitable, she sighed, stretched, and walked firmly into the ballroom. Her handmaiden cloak had been taken off before hand, and her hair was let loose in just the right places. Her dress floated behind her, the light brown material covered with tiny flowers billowing behind her.
Enough of that chapter. Tell me what you think, or else I won't know, lol!