Across the Stars: A Cinderella Story

By Serena Kenobi

Author's Notes: Wow! I thank you SO much for all of your reviews. They were awesome. Keep it up! It gives me my muse to help me write, lol. Here's an update for you!! My second Across the Stars story will be Beauty and the Beast. It will not be exactly like the Disney version, but a original plot twist. Still, it's Beauty and the Beast. Anyhoo, I hope you enjoy this next chapter, and don't forget to review!

Disclaimer: I may not own Star Wars... but I own this story!!

Chapter Ten

The morning after the ball, Padmé woke up, feeling extremely weary and drained of energy. Yawning, she stood up and stared out her one small window that overlooked Theed city. A cool breeze blew through the window, and shivering slightly, she wrapped her arms around herself, rubbing her shoulders.

"Just another ordinary day," she murmured.

Heading downstairs, she found the royal family barely awake, sipping on some coffee.

"Did you have a good time at the ball?" Padmé asked, rubbing her eyes.

Sabé whimpered. "Some girl was dancing with Anakin for the whole time," she cried, "and we hardly got to see any of him. They walked off and we couldn't find them!" She plunked down her cup angrily.

Jobal shook her head at her daughters. "There, there, my dears," she soothed. "I'm sure he was just being polite to the girl."

Sola growled. "Yes… very polite," she grumbled.

A guard came into the room and bowed.

"Your Majesty, your business partner is waiting on the hologram for you in your chambers," he said.

Jobal nodded. "Thank you, I shall come directly," she said, standing up and walking out of the room. When passing Padmé, she glared at her profoundly.

Padmé narrowed her eyes, somehow getting the feeling that something was not right. She quietly followed Jobal to her chambers, but Jobal shut and locked the doors. Padmé frowned, but then smiled.

Artoo wheeled himself into the chambers of the queen, replacing some drinks. His recorder was also on.

"Ah, Your Highness," said Viceroy Gunray. "We've been expecting you."

"I have thought over your offer, and I am willing to pay the credits," Jobal replied stiffly. "I will give you one million credits in exchange for you giving us a year's supply of battle droids."

The Viceroy frowned. "One million? That's nothing. I demand four."

"Four is outrageous!" Jobal yelled, "How do you expect me to get that kind of money?"

"Tax your people more, give them less salary; there are plenty of ways," Gunray shot back. "If you don't agree, then I shall either not give you any droids at all, I will take away the droids you already have bought!"

Jobal glared furiously at him. "You wouldn't…"

"Then give me the four million credits," Gunray snapped. Jobal huffed.

"Fine, four million," she agreed. "I'll take it out of my private account."

"Oh, and one more thing," Gunray spoke up, "I want you to bring me one of your people in token of good will."

Jobal thought for a second. "I'll send one of my handmaidens," she finally said, "I don't care what you do with her. She's useless. Her name's Padmé."

Artoo beeped quietly. He had to warn his mistress!

"Very well," Gunray replied. "I'm glad you finally saw things our way." He shut off the link.

Jobal stood there for a second before going to the screen. "I want you to take me to Padmé Naberrie's personal account," she said. "Take out four million credits."

The computer beeped and replied, "Four million credits withdrawn." Jobal smiled evilly and walked out of the room.

Artoo rolled as quickly as he could up to Padmé's turret, where he waited for her to come back. At the end of the day, she came back, exhausted.

"I can't listen now, Artoo," she moaned. "I'm too tired."

Artoo beeped urgently, causing Padmé to sit up, staring at him. "Say that again?"

It's something about your private bank account, he repeated.

"What are you talking about, I don't have a private bank account!" Padmé retorted stubbornly. Artoo beeped again and played the recording for her. Padmé went extremely pale as she heard everything.

"They're going to hurt me, aren't they?" she demanded. "I have to get out of here, now!" She leapt up and ran out of the room, Artoo following her.

As she made her way through the halls of the palace, two guards came up from behind, suddenly grabbed her, and dragged her into the throne room. Jobal was waiting for her with a cold look on her face.

"Throw her into the cell block for now," she ordered. "I don't want her to escape."

"You horrible woman!" Padmé shouted, "You've been stealing from MY account all these years, and I didn't even know it! Now you're selling me off to the Neimoidians just so you can get your precious battle droids. I hate you!"

The queen stiffened at that. "Why don't you get your little nose out of where it doesn't belong," she snapped. "Get out of here!"

Padmé was yanked off, screaming, to the cellblock, where she was roughly tossed inside. She slammed her palms against the force-field and angrily sat on the hard steel bench, seething.

Anakin hurried to Naboo with a legion of clone troopers at his command. He then immediately issued a search for the person who could fit into the glass slipper she had left behind. But that was only to get her to come to him. His first look was the palace, to where he zoomed on a speeder bike. He entered the palace and was shown into the throne room, where Sabé, Sola, and the Queen were sitting.

"Knight Skywalker!" Jobal said, shocked, "What are you doing here?"

Anakin looked around. "I'm trying to find the owner of this slipper," he explained, "I thought you might be able to help me."

Jobal examined it and motioned for her daughters to come closer. "Why don't you try it on, dears?" she said sweetly, "I'm sure it will fit one of you."

Sola elbowed Sabé out of the way and sat down. Anakin reluctantly gave her the slipper, knowing it wasn't her. It seemed that instead of the Queen helping him, she was only hindering him. Sola tried on the shoe, but it was too small.

"It's not fair," she pouted, and stormed out of the room. Sabé tried it on next, but it was far too narrow.

"How come it doesn't fit?" she whined; and Anakin rolled his eyes, groaning inwardly.

Meanwhile, Artoo had found Padmé's cellblock, and began to beep frantically.

"Artoo!" Padmé said, rising to meet him. "Help me out of here!"

He's here, he's here! He whistled urgently, top spinning. Padmé frowned.

"Who's here?"

Anakin Skywalker! Padmé blanched. He's come to find the owner of your glass slipper! In another words, you!

"If I don't show up, he's never going to find me," Padmé said slowly, "and Jobal might convince Anakin to marry one of her daughters! Quick, get me out of here!"

Artoo rolled to the side, stuck out his arm, and unlocked the door. Padmé grabbed a blaster pistol off of the rack and stunned the guards that were there, running towards the throne room as fast as her legs would carry her. She hoped to death that she would make it there in time.

"Why don't you court one of my own daughters, Master Jedi?" the Queen crooned, glancing at Sabé, who perked up and giggled flirtatiously.

Anakin shook his head. "Listen, Your Highness, I'm trying to find the owner of this. I think her name's Padmé, and she's–"

"Padmé!?" Sabé and the Queen exclaimed, startled. "No, no one by that name lives here," Jobal quickly said, "Um, I don't know who you're talking–"

"WAIT!!" Padmé cried, halting in the entrance of the throne room.

Jobal glared at her furiously, and Anakin stared at her, incredulous and ecstatic.

"Padmé?!" he exclaimed, gazing at her. He then frowned. "That is your real name, isn't it? Or is it Amidala?"

Padmé realized that he had known who she was at the ball. "Anakin, I… I'm sorry. I should have told you at the ball. Amidala's my last, well, royal last name. But yes, my real name's Padmé."

Anakin looked at her. Before she could say anything else, he grabbed her to him and locked her in the most passionate kiss she'd ever experienced before. As a matter of fact, it was the only kiss she had ever experienced before, but she wasn't complaining. His lips were soft and warm, and the feeling of them against hers nearly caused her to fall to the ground as her knees began to buckle. Anakin sensed her weakness and wrapped a strong arm around her small, delicate waist. His touch sent chills running throughout her body, and she shivered.

"Stop that at once!" Jobal thundered, causing the two to reluctantly break apart. She turned to Anakin. "You can't marry her, she's an imposter! A common peasant!"

Anakin looked at Padmé, breathing labored. "Are you just a handmaiden, like you told me the first time we met?" he asked quietly.

Padmé glared at Jobal and angrily shook her head. She was also out of breath from the staggering kiss she had just experienced. It was making it hard for her to think and speak clearly. Not that she minded, of course.

"No, it's not true," she shot back, "my name's Padmé Naberrie Amidala, and my father was King Ruwee Naberrie. After he died, my stepmother, she," she motioned to Jobal, "decided that she didn't want me as heir to the throne and has made me work as a servant for the past ten years. Now she's selling me to the Trade Federation, a criminal organization, in exchange for battle droids, and she's taking money out of the bank account I never knew even existed!"

Anakin stared, astonished, from the Queen to Padmé. "Oh Force," he said, the color draining from his face. "It's true."

"No, it's not!" Jobal shrieked.

"She's lying!" Sabé added in a panicked tone, "Don't believe her!"

"It's true," Anakin repeated, gazing firmly at Padmé, who faintly smiled in return. He then slowly locked gazes with the Queen, who was fuming. "You've been committing some serious crimes," he said coldly, "Dealing with a criminal organization, selling off the true heir to the Nubian throne, and taking credits out of her account. All these crimes are certainly enough to strip you of your title and your daughters' as well, for they were in on it too. At least, knowing that Padmé was actually the heir to the throne. I'm going to arrest you and maybe your daughters."

Jobal's face became enraged. "I don't think so!" she screeched, and pressed a button on her wrist. Anakin and Padmé turned to see a mass of battle droids coming towards them, ready to fire.

"Here's where the fun begins," Anakin grinned, and rushed at them, igniting his clear blue lightsaber.

Padmé began shooting them down with her blaster; and Anakin chopped many of them down. But even with a Jedi Knight, there were too many of the droids for him alone, and they forced the pair back into the hall.

"Commander Skywalker to Commander Cody," Anakin said in his comlink, "requesting backup for Theed Palace."

"We're on our way, Commander," Cody replied before shutting off the link.

Padmé looked at Anakin as they ran down the hall, droids running after them. "How long before they get here?" she panted.

"Oh, soon," he replied. He deflected more bolts, sending them back into the droids. "I hope."

"Why doesn't that comfort me?" Padmé muttered.

Awww, lots of Ani/Padme mush. We all love it. But also drama, mystery, and action! Boy, I sound like a commercial. I hope you enjoyed this chapter, not too many more to go... say one or two? But I hope you'll all stick around after this story's over to read the next installation of Across the Stars.

MtFbwy,

-Serena Kenobi