Thank you all so much waiting patiently for this. After that last chapter I've been feeling burnt out from everything. Couldn't write or even feel excited that soon I'll be graduating and become a social worker. I've been hoping this break to recharge my batteries by taking a break from everything and reading all these books I've gotten over these last few months. It took me about a week before I finally got inspiration to write this next chapter.
The first section was inspired by a Logan/Kayla scene from X-men: Origins, and all the fanfics of Reylo that I've been reading recently. Other parts have also been inspired by The Last Jedi as well. Hope you all enjoy it.
Chapter 8
Padme smiled as she hung up the painting Pooja had given to her for her birthday at the head of her bed. It was a beautiful imagery of the Pixie Padme surrounded by light and nature, holding her hand out to the dark spirit Wraith even while he was surrounded by darkness. Padme thought the painter did an amazing job painting their hands reaching out but never touching.
She turned her head around to see the by laying on her bed, looking at her with a rare smile he bestowed only to her.
"It's a nice painting, but I don't remember that depiction in the story," he said, his blue eyes shining with curiosity.
Padme smiled. "That's because there are different versions to the Pixie and Wraith," she said, laying down on the bed next to him, her face just inches away from his.
"The tale people tell their children is just one version of the story. In many versions, Padme the Pixie and Wraith are lovers," she whispered in a sultry voice.
Her own lover grinned at her. "Your Mammy tell you this when you were a little girl?"
Padme laughed. "No, my mythology teacher did. You'd be amazed of the stories you'd hear in that class by not falling asleep."
The man chuckled.
"My favorite version of them is when they meet under Shiraya's full moon when the other pixies would be asleep, and Wraith's master Ral would not dare come out and challenge the Goddess. Under Shiraya's light in the darkness the lovers would meet in secret until one night another dark spirit named Sidious saw them together and grew jealous of their love. He told Master Ral that Wraith had been seduced into betraying him by the pixie Padme. Maser Ral did not like this betrayal, but did not wish to kill his favorite servant, and he could not kill Padme under Shiraya's watchful eye, so on the night of the full moon Master Ral sent Sidious out in Wraith's place. Sidious disguised himself with a cloak so that Padme would not recognized him. When he met under the full moon, Padme was worried because there was something different about the spirit who met her that night. When Sidious pulled her into his arms, she recognized him and immediately tried to pull away from him, but his grip was too strong. Then Wraith came to the clearing and his heart broke in anguish seeing his love in the arms of another, not knowing the truth in it. Jealousy and anger burned him, believing his love to be unfaithful, he took out a knife and mortally stabbed her.
"Sidious released her and revealed his deception, laughing and gloating before he disappeared into the dark forest. Heartbroken for what he did, Wraith could only hold the dying Padme in his arms and beg for her forgiveness. Padme touched his face and whispered her final words, 'Those who betray others, betray only themselves, my love." With those final words, Padme the Pixie died and dissolved into glittering dust. Wraith howled in agony, begging to see his love again. Shiraya, who had seen everything happen, came down from the heavens and took pity on the dark spirit. Gathering the dust that had once been Padme, she promised Wraith that he would see his love again, but because he allowed his jealousy and anger to blind him, he would never be allowed to touch her again. So she took the dust and returned to the heavens where a red star appeared next to her. From that day forth, Wraith could see his love among the stars but could never touch her again," Padme finished the story, looking at her lover's face with her kind brown eyes.
"Wow. Wraith got farkled didn't he?" he said.
Padme snorted, rolling her eyes a bit.
"It's different from the version you usually hear."
"I think that's because the storyteller's wanted to focus more on Padme's compassion and how she helped the children of Naboo survive, not how she loved a creature many considered a nightmarish monster," Padme said.
She placed a hand on her lover's face and caressed his cheek. He smiled tenderly at her. Reaching out, he pulled out the comb in her hair. The golden pixie on the comb looked very much like the Pixie Padme in the painting. However, as he looked closer at it, he noticed the tiny red jeweled flower in the pixie's hand. He looked at Padme, question in his eyes.
She smiled at him."Padme means red flower."
Setting the comb aside, he ran his fingers through her hair as he looked deep into her eyes. Leaning in, Padme touched her lips to his. Sparks shot through her, electrifying her as he kissed her back, moving his weight onto her as the kiss grew more passionate.
The pixie comb laid forgotten at the head of the bed under the painting of Padme and Wraith.
The image changed to a room of fire and death. The man was in the middle of it, hair plastered to his sweaty skin from the heat. Bodies surrounded him burned and mutilated. Ash filled the air, making it hard to breath.
The man looked through the carnage and fire until he saw it. The comb that was always worn with such love and care by its owner laid in the rubble and ash as fire burned around it.
He roared in anguish-
Anakin woke up, gasping for breath. It took him a moment to look around, remember where he was, and to see Padme asleep next to him before he calmed himself down. He breathed a sigh of relief, glad that he hadn't awoken his wife. She was already going through a lot and she needed whatever sleep she could get.
Looking at the chrono next to him, he realized it was a little after 0600. Realizing it was no use getting more sleep, he got up, careful not to wake Padme, and went to the fresher. Splashing water onto his face and continuing with his morning routine, he thought about the dream he had. He recognized Padme Lydonia from the holos he had seen, and the man with her her boyfriend. He had never heard their voices, had no way of knowing what their voices sounded like. Padme Lydonia's voice sounded similar to his Padme's voice with more of a mountain accent. Her boyfriend's however sounded smooth and masculine, and yet...so familiar Anakin wanted to know why. The dream had felt so real, like a vision. Anakin searched his feelings and felt the truth, but why? And how?
He finished getting dress and decided to take a walk around the Lasara home. It was a nice home, but the red walls and carpets reminded Anakin too much of the times he would visit Palpatine in his offices. He decided to go outside where he could get fresh air and no one would see this early in the morning. The sun was rising, and the wall surrounding the garden was twice his height, preventing any nosy neighbors from seeing him.
He was glad to find the garden empty and no Ferus Olin in sight. Despite the truce they seemed to have made from the fiasco at Varykino and the suspicions of a possible traitor in their group, Anakin still didn't trust him. For all he knew Ferus could have saved his life and helped him return here just to gain his trust. His shields were so strong that if Anakin tried to pry through them, Ferus would know and that could alert him. So Anakin had no way to be sure other than to trust the Force.
The garden was beautiful even this time of year. There was a fountain in the middle of it, and there were fading flowers Anakin recognized from Naboo lilies to Corellian daisies. Despite the cold weather, Anakin felt like he was back on Coruscant in the Room of a Thousand Fountains, or one of the planets he and Obi-wan had visited throughout the years.
Sitting down on a stone bench, Anakin crossed his legs and closed his eyes in meditation. It was kind of funny that six months in exile on Tatooine succeeded where a decade of training under Obi-wan Kenobi didn't: teaching Anakin the patience of meditation. Anakin tried to think over his dream of Padme Lydonia and her boyfriend. The happiness and love he felt in the first part then the anguish he felt in the end. He knew deep down Padme Lydonia and her boyfriend had something to do with Ryoo's death and some connection to Malorum but what? What was he missing?
Anakin suddenly felt his insides freeze and felt a dark presence in the Force so powerful it threatened to drown him. There was only one person powerful enough to shake him like that. Anakin's eyes shot open, and he looked in surprise and alarm at what he saw in front of him.
Darth Sidious.
Springing to his feet, he took out his lightsaber and ignited it into the Sith lord. Anakin couldn't believe it when the Emperor didn't even twitch like he did all those months ago when Anakin tried to kill him. Taking his lightsaber out Anakin realized that the Sith Lord wasn't real. Was he a vision? Or was this some kind of trick?
The dark lord merely cocked an eyebrow. He looked like a living corpse to Anakin filled to core with darkness that Anakin wondered how he or anyone else were convinced that he had been the kind old man they believed him to be for years. The attacks and injuries Anakin and Mace Windu had inflicted on him months ago had certainly not helped his appearance.
"You're not real," Anakin said, trying to convince himself.
Sidious grinned maliciously. "Oh, but I am. I'll always be real in your mind."
Anakin felt the darkness creeping into him the same way he had been fighting these last two days. He shook his head. "No. I will not let you in my head again."
"Curious," Sidious hissed. "I can see you, but nothing else. I know you are here on Naboo, but where are you?"
He closed his eyes, and Anakin felt his presence digging into his mind. Gritting his teeth, Anakin threw his shields up and fought Sidious. He was so strong Anakin struggled not to let him in and see everything. Memories of the battles fought six month ago flashed in his mind.
The attack on the Jedi Temple.
The Clone troopers he fought side by side with that he was forced to kill.
The dying younglings he was forced to abandon.
The resigned faces of the Jedi who stayed behind.
The failed attack Anakin initiated, causing him to be tortured by Sidious until Obi-wan and Yoda rescued him.
Padme in labor.
No! Anakin gathered the Force and pushed Sidious out. Hard! He could feel the Sith Lord's surprise but he didn't stop. 'You wanted to know where I am? What secrets I'm carrying? Let me return the favor.' He shoved hard into Sidious' mind.
He was in the throne room in Theed Palace Anakin realized. He wasn't alone either. Anakin saw Mas Amedda and Sly Moore talking several feet away, and at a distance, he saw Malorum glaring impatiently through one of the windows.
'Impressive,' he heard Sidious snarl. He turned his head to see the Emperor sitting on the throne. "Your powers have grown stronger, and you've only scratched the surface. Imagine how much further we can go together," Sidious said.
"Is that why you had Ryoo Thule killed? Just to draw me out?" Anakin demanded.
"A tragedy but a necessary one," Sidious told him.
"Don't pretend you're actually sorry! Save the sarcasm! You never cared about anyone who had to die just so you could have power!" Anakin yelled at him.
Sidious grinned sickenly at him. "And you Skywalker have so much to lose. I can sense the fear, the anger, and suspicion from you. You are wise not to trust Ferus Olin."
"What?" Anakin asked, surprised.
"Ask Ferus all he learned when he was in our ranks these last six months. You may find it...enlightening." With that, Sidious vanished and Anakin was back in the Lasara garden.
He realized his lightsaber was still on and distinguished it. He turned around and realized also that during his confrontation he split the stone bench he had been sitting on. He would have to explain it to Eirtae and apologize to her.
He went back inside more rattled than he had been earlier. He entered the kitchen and was surprised to see Elle up, dressed, and drinking hot chocolate.
"Good morning," she said, taking a sip.
"Good morning. I didn't know anyone else was up yet," Anakin said, walking in.
"Just me. I couldn't get anymore sleep and it's hard when Motee snores like a Kryt Dragon," Ella said, smiling a bit.
Anakin chuckled.
"I just made a crock of hot chocolate if you want some." Elle pointed to the counter next to Anakin.
Anakin went and poured himself some, remembering the thick and rich hot chocolate Elle would make for him and Padme when he would come home at night. The drink warmed him up, chasing away any chill he had. He hadn't had any chocolate for six months. He sat down next to Elle at the kitchen island, drinking their hot chocolate.
Elle Okrest was Padme's youngest handmaiden, being three years younger than Anakin. He remembered her being shy and innocent when she started working for Padme a year-and-a-half ago, and keeping his and Padme's relationship a secret. He hoped to the Force she wasn't the traitor in their group. He sensed worry in her and that did not help him. "Are you alright?" he asked.
"I'm fine it's just…" she stumbled, looking at her mug. "Ever since the Empire came into power, people have been living in fear. What were once loyal friends are now suspicious enemies. People don't know how to live without worrying that they'll do something wrong. I just have this feeling that something terrible is going to happen."
Anakin felt the truth in her words and immediately felt guilty for suspecting her. He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. Elle took a shaky breath. "I'm sorry. You have more important thing to worry about than my fears."
Anakin's answer was automatic. "You're part of this Elle. it's okay to have fears and doubts. You just can't have them control your actions."
Elle smiled. "Thank you, Master Skywalker. I mean Anakin," she stammered. "Back on Coruscant you were like the older brother I never had."
Anakin smiled. He remembered, talking with her, learning that she had been born an only child whose mother had died during the Blockade and had to take care of her ailing father until he died when she was fourteen, and had been bullied a lot when she entered the Academy. She wasn't at all like Ahsoka, but she had given him that little sister vibe. They continued drinking their hot chocolate in silence, until they heard footsteps sounding in the hallway coming towards the kitchen.
Vatie came in looking bedraggled, still in her clothes from last night. She covered her mouth with her hand as a yawn escaped her, heading straight for the crock of hot chocolate.
"You look terrible," Elle said, sipping her drink.
"Fell asleep decrypting those files last night," Vatie said, her voice a little snappish before drinking her hot chocolate. She made a face. "It's a little early for chocolate isn't it?"
"The smell didn't point that out to you?" Elle raised an eyebrow.
"I'm so out of it, I just wanted some caffeine to wake me up. My father woke me up from my comm a few minutes ago, asking where I was since I didn't come home at all yesterday after the funeral. Had to tell him I spent the night at a friend's house," Vatie explained, taking another sip of her hot chocolate despite her earlier complaint.
Anakin was thinking for a moment. Vatie had been at the funeral longer than Divo had before she could have even heard from the handmaidens. Which meant that the traitor couldn't be
Vatie.
"Were you able to find anything from the files?" he asked her as she sat own across from him and Elle.
Vatie shook her head. "Nothing useful. The only witnesses that were in the files were Supe and Mari Costil. Everyone else had been in their homes preparing for supper. The Varykino servants had returned to their homes for the night after making Ryoo her supper when Malorum broke in."
Anakin sighed. He had been hoping to avoid going back to the lake country after yesterday's fiasco, but it looks more and more like they'll have to risk it eventually. These last two days the Force had been guiding him to all these decisions. He knew somehow that Padme Lydonia, her comb, and Pooja Janren were somehow linked to Ryoo Thule's death not just because she suspected him and Padme but something else. The question was what? He could only hope the answer wouldn't cost him the lives of his friends and family.
000{{*}}000
When Padme woke up, the Naboo sun was shining. She quickly got up and dressed.
If she remembered correctly, the best time to visit the Theed Care Center would be 1100 before they served lunch at noon. That would be the time when it had the least amount of visitors.
She put on a green long-sleeve dress that went to her knees and white leggings that Eirtae had loaned her. She hesitated before putting her mother's jade earrings back on. There was some comfort wearing something her mother had given to her, especially at times like this when she felt lost.
A knock sounded on her door and upon opening it, she discovered Sabe on the other side.
"Hey, everyone is downstairs and Eirtae's cooking some breakfast," she told Padme.
"Eirtae Lasara is cooking?" Padme asked incredulously as she and Sabe walked down the hallway.
"I know. That's what many of us thought the first time we saw her baking a surra cake, she's not so bad considering her family believes in hired cooks. After last night, she said the only people she trusts in her kitchen are Rabe and Elle," Sabe said, chuckling.
Padme chuckled as well. She remembered Rabe always bringing them meals during her time as queen, and Elle had to learn at a young age to cook and feed her father. They lapsed into silence as they walked down the stairs.
"I've missed you, Sabe," Padme said to her friend.
"I've missed you too. When we heard about the warrant for your arrest, we got so worried, especially when Motee and Elle told us about your condition," Sabe said.
Motee and Ella had been the only members of her staff that knew about her pregnancy and her relationship with Anakin. Padme felt a wave of guilt. She couldn't tell her friend all that had happened these last six months. The night before she and Anakin had a little argument about whether to tell her former handmaidens about Luke and Leia. Padme reluctantly agreed not to tell them. It wasn't that she didn't trust her friends, she trusted them with her life, but if one of them went into Imperial custody there was no guarantee if the information wouldn't slip from them, willingly or not. Padme gave Sabe an abridged version of the last six months, leaving out names of people and places and the gender of her baby.
By the time they made it to the kitchen, Padme could smell hot cakes, bantha sausages, cafe, and hot chocolate, and hear laughter. She looked through the doorway to see Elle pouring cups, Rabe flipping hot cakes, and Eirtae cooking the sausages. In the corner she could see Gregor and Ferus sipping cafe, and at the kitchen island she saw Anakin laughing with the others as Sache told them of the instance they tricked the Bothan ambassador into believing Sabe was the queen and Padme was simply her clumsy handmaiden for two weeks.
Just like that, Padme's heart warmed as she saw what seemed like the first time in a long time her husband smiling and laughing the way he did six months ago before everything changed and the weight of the galaxy fell on him. Sure, these last six months she had seen him laugh and smile with their children, but now he seemed so much like the carefree hotshot he was during the war. Padme missed him and didn't want that carefree image to go away anytime soon.
She finally joined in the fray, laughing as Sache told another instance that involved Captain Panaka's private speeder.
000{{*}}000
Anakin tried not to fidget uncomfortably in his disguise as he, Padme, and Yane walked down the streets towards the Theed Care Center.
After telling everyone of their plan to meet Pooja, Yane had volunteered to go with them, since she use to volunteer there before getting her medical degree. Now that his face was plastered all over the holonet, they had to come up with a different disguise for Anakin. Eirtae had found a red wig for him to wear and green contacts as well. Sabe offered to paint his face with a tattoo, but that's where Anakin drew a line. Red hair and green eyes were one thing, but a face tattoo would make him stand out too much. Typho had loaned him a spare uniform, and Sabe managed to cover the scar on his face that helped to identify him as the Hero with No Fear. Padme's disguise wasn't an elaborate change considering many women on Naboo looked similar to her, but she still wore a hood to help hide her features.
While they were visiting Pooja, everyone else had to return to their day jobs to avoid suspicion: Vatie at the holonet station, Rabe at the dance studio she worked at, Dorme who substituted at the Legislative Youth Program, and Eirtae, Gregor, Sache, and Sabe at the palace. Motee and Elle who were unemployed since Padme's disappearance, agreed to help Ferus continue the search for Malorum.
Anakin didn't tell anyone of his encounter with Palpatine earlier that morning. He didn't want Padme to worry about this, and Palpatine's taunts further reminded him not to trust anyone, especially Ferus. He didn't know why or how he was able to communicate with Sidious the way he did that morning. Any bond he would have had with the Sith Lord would have been destroyed six months ago when Obi-wan and Master Yoda taught him how to shield his and the twins' presence in the Force. Perhaps his encounter with Sidious at the funeral the day before reignited it? Whatever it was Anakin had to find a way to break it before he and Padme returned home.
The Theed Care Center was near the end of the city where they had a beautiful view of the waterfalls and landscape of Naboo. Upon entering, Anakin could feel the emotions coming off of the people living here. Some tired, some confused, some sad, and some regretful. They were in the last stage of their lives, waiting for death to come and claim them. Anakin cringed inwardly. At times the Force was like a blessing, allowing him to use it to save lives while in some cases it seemed like a burden when he could sense all the negative emotion around him.
Yane took them to the front counter and asked to see Pooja Janren.
"Relation?" the receptionist asked.
"I'm her great-niece Lume Janren, and this is my husband Owen," Padme explained, using the same accented voice she had used the other day.
The receptionist looked at the files for a moment. "Madame Janren will have returned from physical therapy by now, but I'm afraid she won't be up to any visitors today. Ever since news of Ryoo Thule's death reached her ears, her health has been deteriorating."
Padme felt fear and worry clutching her chest, and she struggled to keep it together. "How so?" she asked.
"She hasn't been eating well, and her memory has gotten worse if that's possible," the receptionist answered. "Just the other day, her grandson came in with his family and they all left in tears. I believe Madame Thule had been a friend of hers before her accident if I'm not mistaken. It happens to many elders who lose friends and loved ones as they grow older."
Anakin exchanged a worried glance with his wife. If Pooja's memory was really bad as the receptionist was saying, would she be able to tell them anything useful?
"Could you please let us see her?" Padme pleaded, making her eyes water with tears for effect. "I haven't seen her in a long time, and I've never even had the chance to introduce her to my dear Owen. I thought they should meet before she-" she stopped purposely, letting a tear fall down.
The receptionist looked at her in sympathy before sighing. "Well, if you absolutely insist. She should be taking her walk out in the greenhouse before her morning nap."
Yane remembered the way, taking Padme and Anakin down the hallways towards the greenhouse. They found Pooja being pushed around in a hoverchair by a medical droid. She seemed much older since the last time Padme had visited her. The last time being when she came with Sola and Darred when little Pooja had been born and they wanted to introduce her to her namesake. The elder Pooja had been beaming with delight. The doctors had managed to help her regain control of her arms and she was able to hold her youngest great-grandchild for the first time. Now, it seemed like much of the fight Pooja had to regain control of her body and mind had left her.
Yane agreed to stand guard while Padme and Anakin went to go talk to her. As they got closer to her, Padme could see the stark contrast between the woman in the holo with her great-aunt and the older woman before her. Her hair was completely white, and there were wrinkles all around her face, and in the holo while the young Pooja Janren had been brimming with life this older woman seemed like an empty shell of her.
The woman tilted her head towards Anakin and Padme as she heard them walk towards her. "Hello," she said calmly.
Padme stopped and Anakin nearly bumped into her, some of her courage leaving her as she stared at the woman she use to visit as a child. "Hello," she said back numbly.
"Can I help you, Madame? Sir?" the medical droid asked.
"We're just here to visit and talk," Anakin answered.
"Madame Janren likes to walk around the flowers before her morning nap," the droid said.
"We'll make sure she goes to her room before she gets too tired," Padme reassured it. "Could we talk to her for a bit?"
The droid left them, and Padme knelt down beside Pooja, looking at the flowers surrounding them. There were lotuses, daisies, roses, ryoos, rominarias, and poojas everywhere, reminding Padme of picnics spent with friends, family, and Anakin in fields surrounded by flowers such as these.
"Who are you?" Pooja asked, confused.
Padme looked up at her. "I'm Padme, Pooja. Padme Naberrie and this is my husband Anakin."
"Padme?" the woman asked.
Padme nodded. "Yes, Winama and Ryoo's granddaughter."
"Winama? Ryoo?" Pooja repeated. Tears suddenly filled her eyes.
"Ryoo's dead," the woman sobbed.
Padme grasped the woman's hand, hoping she could feel it. The bones were thin and the skin was soft. Padme could remember her grandma once mentioning that this woman could shoot a blaster with precision and fight rough against an assailment.
"I know Pooja," Padme said gently, tears springing to her eyes as well. "That's why I'm here. I need your help finding the person who killed her."
The woman looked at her in confusion. "How can I help?"
"The pixie comb Aunt Padme use to wear, do you remember it?" Padme asked.
"Comb? Padme?" the woman repeated, confused.
Anakin took out the holo of Pooja with Padme Lydonia that they had taken with them just in case. He handed it to Padme, and Padme showed it to Pooja. She pointed at the comb in her aunt's hair. "This comb."
Tears shed from Pooja's eyes and she shook her head so roughly Padme had to put her hands on Pooja's shoulders for fear the old woman would hurt herself.
"That blasted comb!" Pooja sobbed. "It survived the fires, but not poor Padme or anyone else."
The older woman cried, and both Padme and Anakin worried for her. After exchanging a worried glance, Anakin suggested, "Maybe we should take you to your room."
The woman took deep breaths, and Padme did her best to comfort her as she pushed her hoverchair out of the greenhouse. Yane helped them find her room where they would have more privacy, and hopefully Pooja would be more comfortable.
It was a quaint room for one occupant. There was a holonet, and a small bed big enough for Pooja to sleep on, and a small fresher. There were holos of family members on the dresser and paintings of Naboo hanging on the walls. As Anakin looked around the room, he felt his blood freeze when his eyes landed on one painting in particular.
Half of the painting showed nature and life surrounding a red figure that was shaped like a pixie. The other half was of darkness and decay surrounding a dark figure that reminded Anakin of a demon. Both figures were reaching out to one another but couldn't seem to touch. Anakin recognized the painting from the dream he had that morning. The dream where he saw Padme Lydonia and her mystery boyfriend. Walking over towards it, Anakin touched it and felt the past emotions associated with it: happiness, mourning, and regret. Maybe when Padme Lydonia had died the painting was given to Pooja as a keepsake.
Anakin turned his head back to Padme and Pooja who had settled beside the window. The old woman had calmed down, and Padme tried speaking to her again.
"I'm so sorry," Pooja said, her voice a little raspy from the crying. "I forget things. I forget a lot of things. Then I remember things I don't want to remember."
"So do we all," Padme assured her gently. "Just try your best."
"I sometimes muddle the past with the present," Pooja went on. "I could mistake you for Queen Celestine, and this young man here for Captain Blantyre."
Anakin raised an eyebrow but didn't interrupt.
"Look at me, Pooja," Padme gently told her. "Your name is Pooja Janren. I'm Padme Naberrie. This is the twenty-second rotation of the eleventh cycle in the eight hundred-and-forty-ninth year of Naboo. I need you to tell me what you remember about my Aunt Padme's comb. It's important." padme hated pushing the old woman like this, but she needed to know why Malorum had wanted her aunt's comb. Her family's lives depended on it.
Pooja took a deep breath. "Your aunt loved wearing that comb. Your Grandma Winama had given it to her as a good luck charm when she started interning for Lady Dragon."
"Lady Dragon?" Padme asked.
Pooja laughed. "I'm sorry. Lady Veruna, that she-dragon who tried to act in her twenties instead of her fifties. Life in court is very dangerous. The men are slippery and the women even more so. In court, you hear and learn so many things: people having affairs, officials stealing from the monarch, and blackmailing each other. Everyone had enemies, even the servants."
Padme shuddered, remembering it being like that when Veruna had been king and she the Princess of Theed. It had been almost as bad as the Empire today. "The comb, Pooja," she gently reminded her.
Pooja nodded her head. "We tried to warn Padme. She was sixteen going on seventeen. Just a child. Too innocent for the schemes and ambitions of court, but she discovered the secrets, and those secrets got her killed."
"What secrets?" Anakin asked.
Fear appeared in Pooja's eyes. "I shouldn't say such things. Padme planned to tell the Queen one of them and they killed her. Killed them all before anything could be done about it."
Padme felt her stomach knotting in dread. "What did Padme know?"
"Too much," the woman said, shaking her head. "She knew who killed Celestine's niece, she knew about Lady Veruna's affair with Bon Tapolo, she knew about the blackmail between Ars Veruna and Reggie Costil, and Shiraya knows what else she knew. With the secrets she knew anyone would have wanted her dead."
"But Pooja, that was almost fifty years ago. Anyone whose secrets Padme knew would be dead or dying now," Padme.
Pooja frowned at her. "Then you've underestimated all your political enemies over the years, Padme. Your Aunt Padme knew secrets that could bring down the greatest families of Naboo. She dared not tell me, your grandfather Luke, or even her sister Ryoo for fear of what they would do to her. Only to Queen Celestine would she tell. That's why they killed and their allies. They got Padme and Celestine before they got them."
The room was quiet.
Anakin and Padme looked at the woman stunned by theses revelations. Padme's mind was reeling at this information.
Before they could ask Pooja more, the commlink Anakin had brought with him beeped.
"Someone's looking for Pooja. Get out of there. It's a Naboo officer," Yane's frightened voice responded.
Anakin and Padme quickly ran to the door, peeking out towards the hallway.
They were too late.
The person coming towards Pooja's room was Lieutenant Gregor Panaka.
000{{*}}000
Naboo; 66 bby
Padme could hardly contain the excitement bubbling inside her as her sister helped her style her hair for tonight. Tonight was the New Year masked ball at the palace, and she and Luke had been invited to go.
For her costume, Padme was going as the Pixie Padme she had been named after. Her dress was red and sleeveless made out of satin that flowed down Padme's form like a red waterfall with gold trimming around her waist. Attached to the back of the dress was a red silk train that sparkled in the light and served as the costumes wings. As for her hair Ryoo had arranged it with a circlet of red roses Jobal had helped them make into a fancy updo Padme had seen noblewomen do with strands of her dark hair curled down her neck. The pixie comb that she always wore had been polished and was gleaming in her hair amongst the roses. Winama had helped with her make up by painting her lips a dark red and brushing a gold and light red eyeshadow around her eyes, making Padme seem more ethereal than human. For the final touch she would be wearing a beaded red mask covering just the section of her eyes but enhanced the dark color of Padme's brown eyes. Overall, Padme loved her costume, and couldn't wait to attend her first official ball at Theed Palace.
"And done," Ryoo announced after inserting the final pin in her hair.
Padme stood to look at her reflection in the mirror and couldn't believe what she saw. The person she saw in the mirror was a beautiful woman who looked dainty and feminine but also possessed the power of a leader. Was that really her?
"You look beautiful, Padme," Ryoo said.
Padme turned towards her sister and smiled. It had taken weeks, but she, Winama, and Luke had managed to talk Ryoo into being Padme's plus one for the ball. As a newly made widow, Ryoo still had months of wearing black ahead of her according to tradition. However, since it was the New Year Winama managed to talk her into entering the New Year wearing something more colorful and hopeful.
Another thing that had been an issue was who was going to watch Jobal and Ruwee for the evening. For the Fete holiday, Mammy had come to Theed with Ruger Lydonia in the hopes that it would help his mental health. After the girls had left their village, it seemed Ruger's mind had taken a turn for the worse. He would forget his wife was dead and call out to her, asking where she was. When Mammy had brought their father here, it had broken both Ryoo and Padme's hearts to see him as a confused old man who sometimes mistook one of them for their dead mother. Mammy had insisted that she would be able to watch Ruger and the kids while Ryoo, Padme, and the Naberries celebrated the New Year at the palace.
Ryoo had her hair plaited and wore light makeup that highlighted her gray eyes. She still wore a dressing gown and had yet to put on her costume.
A grin appeared on her face, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "No doubt Sheev will think so too."
"Ryoo!" Padme explained.
Weeks ago when Padme had brought Sheev over for dinner, it set off a long line of teasing from Ryoo and Winama. It annoyed her to no end dealing with their questions every night she came home, asking if she had seen Sheev that day and if so what did they talk about. She had only brought him to dinner because she didn't think it right to eat alone in a big house with a man like Cosinga Palpatine for company. They were just friends, and Padme didn't have time to explore romance like a lovesick teenager. Besides she figured Ryoo and Winama were already plotting an arranged marriage between Ruwee and Jobal.
A knock sounded on the door, and Winma came in dressed in her gold and white Queen Yram costume. "Hey, you ladies about ready?"
"Almost," Padme answered, looking at her sister condescendingly and amusingly. "Somebody's not dressed yet."
Ryoo glared playfully at her. "Could I help it that your hair is so thick I had problems fixing it?"
Winama laughed. "I'll help you . you go on downstairs, Padme. You look amazing by the way."
Padme felt her cheeks blush from the appraisal even as she thanked Winama and headed downstairs where everyone was waiting. She could hear laughter in the parlor, and peaking around the corner she could see Mammy teaching Jobal and Ruwee how to knit gloves, or trying to with Ruwee. Luke was standing there in his chocolate brown King Jafan costume, grinning and even her father was smiling.
Jobal looked up from her knitting and her eyes widened when she saw Padme. "Aunt Padme?"
All eyes turned on her in surprise and Padme felt herself blushing under such stares.
"My goddess, little Pixie, you look bewitching!" Mammy exclaimed. "All those males at Theed Palace will need to be in check around you."
Padme laughed.
"Where' Mama?" Jobal asked.
"My date needed some help getting ready. She'll be done in a minute," Padme said, smiling.
"You look real beautiful Padme. Let me go get your mother so she can see this," Ruger said, starting to get up from his chair. The happy mood in the room dimmed, and the smile on Padme's face disappeared.
"That's alright, Papa," Padme assured him as Luke stopped him from getting up. "I'll make sure she sees me before we leave," she lied.
Footsteps sounded on the footsteps behind her, thankfully interrupting the saddened mood.
"Golly look at Mama," she heard Jobal gasp.
Ryoo looked amazing in her nymph costume. A light pink silk gown that made Ryoo's tanned skin glow with flower glass jewelry made her look like a radiant being of nature as she stepped down the stairs with Winama behind her. A smile beamed on her face as she walked over towards her family.
"You're a vision, Ryoo Pettle," Mammy breathed.
"Why thank you," Ryoo said, her cheeks blushing pink.
Mammy insisted that they they all take a holo with Ruger and the children before they leave. After that while they were getting their cloaks, Ryoo made Jobal promise to behave and go to bed when Mammy told them to. Jobal made Padme promise to tell her everything that happened that night: what the ballroom looked like, what did everyone wear, and what the Queen looked like. Padme promised to tell her in the morning.
It was snowing that night, and the air was frigid cold. Padme huddled next to Ryoo in the hovercarriage Luke had hired for the night, bundled in the blankets the driver had given to them. As they rode in the carriage, Padme could see crowds gathered around the palace, despite the cold weather, ready to celebrate the new year when it arrive.
When they made it into view of the palace, Padme couldn't believe the spectacular scene in front of her. The palace gleamed and shined in the dark in a gold and red hue of colors. People gathered around the roads where speeders and hovercarriages escorted members of court to the front stairs leading to the palace's entrance. It was all so magical that Padme felt like a princess from a fairytale.
When their hovercarriage stopped in front of the stairs, with masks in place, Luke escorted the three women out, and together they traveled up towards the grand entrance. Padme felt a wave of excitement rush through her mixed with a hint of worry. It was almost nerve wracking when she thought about. Here she was the daughter of mountain farmers being escorted up the staircase into the Palace of Theed where the Queen herself resided in as if she were a noblewoman herself.
After removing their cloaks and handing them to a serving droid, Padme and her sister followed Luke and Winama down the hallway into the ballroom. It was amazing how different the palace was during the day compared to the night. Padme was always impressed every time she walked the halls during the day, but tonight when everything was shining and beautifully displayed it was awe-inspiring.
The ballroom doors opened, and Padme was swept away in a sea of color. From the lightest to the darkest, and from the simplest to the most extravagant, people were dressed in gowns of numerous colors and costumes from the myths and folklore legends of Naboo. Women laughed and gossip as their gowns and jewels sparkled under the lights glowing from the crystal chandeliers. Men roared in laughter drinking from glasses of champagne and alcohol, not caring about anything but celebrating and having a good time. Couples twirled around the ballroom, their cloaks and dresses swishing as music sounded around the room from an orchestra hidden on the high level above the ballroom floor.
Padme stuck close to Ryoo and the Naberries as Luke led them through the throng of people to, Padme realized, the Queen.
Queen Celestine sat on a throne overlooking the ballroom as she greeted her numerous guests. She was dressed in a gown of silver and white with pink and ruby jewels glowing around her neck and sleeves that looked stiff and heavy to Padme, and she wore an elaborate headdress Padme recognized as Shiraya. Through the traditional Nubian makeup of white paint with the red circles on the cheeks and the scar of remembrance, Padme could see the features of Nadie Cesare: her heart shaped face, her button nose, and brown-gray eyes, behind the mask of Queen Celestine. She looked beautiful, but uncomfortable in such lavish material, making Padme feel sorry for her. Instead of dancing and enjoying herself like her subjects were doing she was forced to sit down in an elaborate gown and never move. What torture!
Padme was in such awe that she didn't realize they were getting closer until Ryoo nudged her. Padme took a deep breath and gulped a bit as Luke introduced them to the monarch of Naboo.
Celestine smiled as Luke's group came up to her. "Councilor Naberrie, I am pleased to see you here at this joyous occasion as well as your beautiful as your entourage."
Luke bowed to her, Winama, Ryoo, and Padme following him in curtsies. "I am pleased to be here, Your Highness. Allow me to introduce you to my wife, Madame Winama Naberrie, our dear friend Madame Ryoo Thule, and her sister Miss Padme Lydonia who is also an intern to the Lady Veruna here at the palace."
Celestine raised a dark eyebrow before placing her gaze on Padme. "Really?"
Padme tried not to shift uncomfortably under the Queen's eyes, her cheeks reddening.
"Yes, Your Highness," she answered, bowing humbly to her.
Celestine smiled gently at her. "I've actually heard a great deal about you from Lady Veruna herself. I look forward to seeing you more."
Padme felt herself smiling back at her. "Thank you, Your Highness."
As they left, Padme finally noticed the handmaidens dressed in red standing behind and beside the Queen. One of those handmaidens was Pooja Janren who had a wide grin on her face.
Pretty soon, Padme was swept up in the celebrations. Men asked her to dance, and Padme found that whatever nerves she had upon entering the palace evaporate as she enjoyed herself among the elite of Naboo. She was having the time of her life.
Soon she found herself dancing in the arms of Councilor Tie Bibble. He was a nice looking man with red hair and a charming smile, and he was pretty funny too. She discovered that he was the uncle of her classmate Sio Bibble, and that the young boy had talked a lot about her to his uncle.
"I believe he has a crush on you, my dear Miss Lydonia," Tie teased.
Padme laughed as they swirled around the dance floor. "That's very sweet of him, but I'm afraid there's not much to admire about a girl who's often ridiculed in class."
"You have courage and resilience, and from what Luke has told me, you are a hard worker. We need more politicians like you," Tie told her.
Padme felt herself blushing as they finished the dance and the crowd applauded the orchestra. She had not been expecting all the praises she had received this night, from Councilor Bibble to the Queen herself. She was just a farm girl turned intern for Lady Veruna, nobody important.
Tie offered her refreshment and she accepted, walking with him over to the refreshment tables. As they did so, Tie talked with Padme on some of the issues he and a few other councilors were dealing with in regards to the Trade Federation, and the two fractions led between Bon Tapolo and Ars Veruna against Reggie Costil and Cosinga Palpatine. The two parties were causing tremendous distress on the Queen, especially with the elections coming up in a year and the Queen's second term coming towards an end.
"Many of the council members wish to keep Celestine in office because if she goes Tapolo or Costil will be the next monarch and Shiraya forbid what damage either of them will cause. However, if we allow Celestine to remain in office what example are we setting for fututre generations in the preservation of democracy?" Tie explained.
Padme could understand where he was going. Despite the struggles, Celestine had improved Naboo's economy, building projects for people to work on, increasing the salary of miners, and supporting the nature reserves of millions of acres of Naboo. If she stepped down Tapolo or Costil could undo all her hard work.
They reached the refreshment table where Tie got her a glass of sparkling surra cider.
Tie looked over her shoulder and frowned. "Speak of one of the devils and he'll appear."
Padme followed his gaze, turning around to see that Cosinga Palpatine had arrived, his mistress at his arm. The man and woman were dressed in smoky colors of purple. Regina Costil's dress was cut low, revealing a generous amount of her bosom with strings of Nubian pearls dangling down her neck. It disgusted Padme. The immodesty and displayed wealth even though she had seen other women dressed similar here at the ball.
As Lord Palpatine and Lady Costil made their way to greet the Queen, Padme saw Sheev behind them in a dark costume. Of course he was wearing a mask that covered his entire upper face, but she recognized his built and gait as he followed his father towards the Queen.
Politely excusing herself from Tie, Padme headed over towards Sheev as he separated himself from his father. She followed him to a pillar a little away from the crowds.
"If you're trying to sneak up on someone, you're doing a lousy job," Sheev said to Padme.
Padme narrowed her eyes at him. "I just wanted to wish you a happy new year. I haven't exactly talked with you these last several days."
After that night at dinner, Padme had been spending more of her free time with him just talking as they walked around the palace gardens and streets of Theed. She learned that he loved to fly his speeder, and he learned that Padme loved reading books on Naboo folklore. During that time Padme had hoped to call them friends. He didn't hesitate to point out her flaws, and yet he wasn't trying to be mean. Padme cared about him as confusing as that was.
Sheev's eyes softened a bit under his mask as he gazed down at her.
Padme then realized something. "Are you dressed up as Wraith?" she asked, shocked.
Sheev chuckled. "Yes, since you love stories of Padme the Pixie and Wraith so much I thought it wouldn't hurt to dress up as him."
Padme couldn't find any words to say. She was speechless.
Sheev's blue eyes traveled down her form, and Padme felt her cheeks blushing. It wasn't a lustful look she had seen other men throw at her tonight, but it was something she couldn't describe.
"You look beautiful," Sheev said.
Padme blushed more, looking down at her red slippers. "Thank you. You too. I mean-I-you look handsome," she stumbled.
Sheev smiled at her. Not the teasing or cocky one she was use to seeing but a genuine smile.
She felt her heart skip a beat. She barely heard the announcement to take off their masks and the countdown for the new year. When she didn't move a muscle, Sheev leaned forward taking her mask off, his eyes never leaving hers as took his own off as well. In those few moments, Padme Lydonia the Pixie and Sheev Palpatine the dark spirit looked into each other's bare souls as a force brought them closer together.
Sheev's lips touched Padme's and she thought fireworks went off. She wasn't expecting this, but she wasn't disappointed either. Euphoric bliss rushed through her, her arms snaking around Sheev's neck and his around her waist. They stayed that way, locked in a passionate growing kiss even as everyone around them celebrated the new year.
When they finally separated, Padme was smiling as was Sheev.
"Happy New Year, Sheev."
"Happy New Year, Padme."
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So what do you guys think? This may come as a shock to you guys, but even though I love reading romance, I'm not very good writing it, so did I do a good job on that part?
I hope I've intrigued people again. This chapter was a lot more hard work than I expected so PLEASE review this! I want to know what everyone's thoughts are on this.
Happy New Year!