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Love Story-- Part I: The Phantom Menace

Padmé Naberrie Amidala wasn't Queen for very long when trouble started to brew among the Trade Federation. In fact, her entire home planet of Naboo was in danger. Only fourteen yet extremely smart and independant, Padmé was keen on setting down her rules and doing things herself, despite the many advisors assigned to her as a young Queen. But, the danger was thought too great for her, and she was placed under the care of the Jedi Knights. She was disguised as a maid and went by her first name of Padmé rather than Amidala, as a double was put in her place dressed as the Queen. Jedi Master Qui-Gon Ginn and his apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi, along with Padmé and several other maids, flew their ship to Tatooine because they needed a part for the ship. This mission took them to the shop of a Toydorian named Watto, who had a taste for gamling. He owned slaves as well, two of which were Shmi Skywalker and her son Anakin, and little did Padmé know what fate awaited her where this little boy was concerned.

The first meeting of Padmé Naberrie Amidala and Anakin Skywalker took place inside Watto's shop. While Padmé was looking around the cluttered shop, two peircing blue eyes were on her, watching her every move. When of course Padmé noticed that someone was watching her, she turned to find a young boy of nine polishing a peice of machinery, who went by the name of Anakin. He didn't appear to be shy, and immediately struck up a conversation by asking if Padmé was one of the Angels from the moons of Lego. Padmé's reaction was to laugh, seeming amused by the boy. They introduced themselves to each other, and that was when it all started; the all-consuming love that would one day be the fall of them both.

Qui-Gonn noticed the boy too. But not in the way that Padmé had, as a sweet litle boy, but as a potential Jedi. He didn't say anything at first, but his eye was watching the boy carefully. Watto told Padmé, Qui-Gonn and Obi-Wan that he owned Anakin and Shmi, when he was asked about the boy. The part that they had been seeking was found in the shop, but Watto wasn't willing to hand it over to them unless there was something valuable in it for him. Qui-Gonn played off the shop-keeper's gambling problem. Anakin was more than eager to race in his Podracer if it meant getting the ship-part for Padmé's ship, and also his freedom. Qui-Gonn had not been able to get Shmi's freedom on the line. In turn for the part and Anakin, Qui-Gonn had gambled their means of transportation. Padmé on the other hand wasn't too happy about having her ship gambled on, but she really didn't have any say as she was on Tatooine in disguise as a maid and the older Jedi Knight apparently knew what he was doing.

When Anakin brought the three strangers home with him, Shmi was a little reluctant to have them in the house, but when Qui-Gonn had suggested the freeing of her son, then the mood was lightened. But the Jedi Master did in fact have more in mind for the young boy then just his freedom. Anakin and Padmé spent a great deal of time together, as Anakin wanted to show her his projects, one which was the earlier model of C-3PO, without his 'clothing' :) It was a driod built with the intention of helping Shmi, but instead the Enligh-Speaking 3P0 befriended R2-D2, which was Padmé's own astromech droid. Together they helped ready Anakin's Podracer for the race, whose outcome would decide Anakin's own fate.

In the time leading up to the race, Padmé shared many heartfelt moments with the little boy that would one day grow to be her husband. When at last it was time for the race, Padmé sat in the stands as nervous as Shmi. Qui-Gonn was easily placing his faith in the boy, because he showed high levels of the force. With a great deal of what seemed like luck but could maybe have been credited to Anakin's superior attachment to the force, he was the race. Padmé was beside herself with happiness. It was, though, a sad time all the same, as this would mean Shmi's son was leaving her. After their goodbyes, Padmé, Anakin, Obi-Wan and Qui-Gonn fixed the ship and flew off toe coruscant before the Jedi Council, where Qui-Gonn convinced a reluctant council to allow Anakin to begin training as a Jedi. The council argued that he was too old to begin training, but really, there was a very powerful feeling emitting from the boy that they believed would cause mayhem in the futur. In the end, after Anakin had piloted a ship on Naboo and helped liberate the planet, they reconsidered and allowed him be trained. While on Coruscant, Padmé took the issues of her planet before the Senate. This did her absoultely no good at all.

When they returned to Naboo, Padmé called upon the Gungans for help, a species of which Jar Jar Binx, who had also travelled with them from Tatooine, belonged to. With this new help, Amidala raided her own Palace where Nute Gunray had decided to stay, and was able to force him to leave, as the Gungans had defeated the droid army that had faught for him.

Anakin was impressed that Padmé was in fact a Queen, but he vowed that he would one day marry her. Padmé again did not see the seriousness in the boy and did not take too sharply to his claim. She replied that he was just a little boy, but Anakin insisted that he wouldn't be a little boy forever. Despite her contrariness to his way of thinking, Padmé did feel a very strong connection to the boy, and knew she would one day see him again...in all his Jedi glory.

Parting on Naboo, Anakin was taken to begin his training, and Padmé finished her term as Queen of Naboo. They would not meet again for ten years.