Athena haven't seen Anakin since night they left Tatoonie, and as much as she wanted to see her friend, She had to handle the situation at hand first. Athena never took off the necklace Anakin gave her, she had it tucked under her clothes.

The ship had landed on Coruscant, where Senator Palpatine was waiting for them. Athena and Padmè walked next to each other as they exited the ship behind Kiara and Sabe.

" It is a great gift to see you alive, your majesties " Senator Palpatine says to Sabe and Kiara as they walked towards him with Athena and Padmè next to them. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan stepped aside to get out of the way and Qui-Gon pulled Anakin in front of him and placed his on Anakin's shoulder reassuringly.

Athena tuned out what Senator Palpatine was saying and look towards Anakin to see him looking at her and they share a smile, after a moment Athena turns her attention back to Senator Palpatine.

" May I present you, Supreme Chancellor Valorum " Senator Palpatine says introducing the man next to him.

" Welcome your highnesses, it's an honour to finally meet you in person " Valorum says.

" Thank you, Supreme Chancellor " Sabe says for the both of them. The chancellor's let the way and everyone followed behind them and Anakin took this chance to walk next to Athena.

" I must relay to you, how distressed everyone is over the current situation. I've called for a special session of the Senate to hear your position " Valorum says and Sabe stoped walking causing everyone to do the same.

" I'm grateful for your concern, Chancellor " Sabe says carefully before walking again, Valorum stood in his place as Palpatine continued to follow him.

" There is a question of procedure " Palpatine says " But, I'm confident we can overcome it ".

Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan stopped following Sabe and Palpatine as they got closer to Valorum " I must speak to with the council Immediately " Qui-Gon says to Valorum " The situation has become much, more complicated ".

Athena and Anakin stopped walking when they heard this and they knew it was about them, Anakin and Athena turned around quickly, they look towards the two Jedi and the chancellor who looked at them.

" Athena, Ani. Come on " Padmè called out to them as she noticed Anakin and Athena stopped following. Padmè continued walking and Anakin and Athena look at Qui-Gon, who gestured for them to follow. Athena and Anakin turned around and continued following everyone to the space cruiser.

Athena sits down next to Padmè as she grabbed Athena's hand squeezing it as the cruiser started.

⎯

Sabe had asked Chancellor Palpatine if she and Kiara could freshen up before they meet, which he agreed to. This was something that Athena and Padmè had to do, not Sabe and Kiara.

As soon as the four girls got to the room, the maids got to work on changing Athena and Padmè into Princess and Queen Amidala. They painted their faces with the usual white and red markings. Athena and Padmè were both dressed in a plane light brown kimono with gold designs on it they both had a white band around their torsos.

Padmè had a glamorous headpiece on that hid her hair, it was a delicate, lacy white material that had beads through it, it also had a huge gold circle and fan shape on top of her head and Athena's headpiece was a smaller version of her sisters, she had the same lacy white material with beads, but with a smaller gold shape fan and no circle.

" Padmè, there's something I have to tell you " Athena sighed.

" What is it, Athena? " Padmè asked concerned.

Athena politely asked the maids to leave the room so her and Padmè could have a minute alone, Padmè grabbed Athena's hands tenderly rubbing her thumb on the back of her hand.

" You know, you can tell me anything " Padmè says reassuringly.

Athena takes a deep breath before saying " Qui-Gon says, that I'm strong with the force and I could become a Jedi. If I wanted to ".

Athena looks away from Padmè, not being able to look her sister in the eyes. She heard Padmè gasp.

" Does that explained, the abilities you've always had? " Padmè asked and Athena nodded looking at her sister.

" Do you wish to join the Jedi academy? " Padmè asked.

" I do " Athena says.

" But? " Padmè asked.

" I have my responsibility as Princess Amidala that I couldn't abandon. Plus, I'm supposed to take over after you " Athena says and Padmè let out a small chuckle.

" Athena " Padmè says to her " Taking over after me may have been a path set for you, but this is a new path you can take. This is you choice and your choice alone, if you wish to become a Jedi, then you have my full support and if you choose to continue being Princess Amidala. Whatever you choose, you'll always be my sister and I'll always be by you side ".

Athena gave Padmè a teary eyed smile as Padmè pulled Athena into a hug.

" Thank you, Padmè " Athena says as they pulled away.

" No need at all, take your time and think about this, okay? I love you little sister " Padmè says.

" I love you too, big sister " Athena says nodding.

The maids come back in and said it was time to go meet with Palpatine, Padmè gives Athena one last reassuring smile before they walk out the room.

Athena took a deep breath before she and Padmè walked to the couch that was in the room and they sat and a moment later Palpatine walks in.

" There is no civility, only politics " Palpatine says to Athena and Padmè " The republic is not what it once was, the senate is full of greedy squabbling delegates. There is no interest in the common good, I must be frank. Your majesties, there is little chance the senate will act on the invasion ".

" Chancellor Valorum, seems to think there is hope " Padmè says her voice deeper that usual to hide her true voice, it was something her and Athena were taught to do.

" If I may say so, your Majesties. The chancellor has little real power, he is mired by baseless accusations of corruption. The bureaucrats are in charge now " Palpatine says.

" What options do we have? " Athena asked.

" Our best choice would be to push for the election of a stronger supreme chancellor, one who could control the bureaucrats and give us justice " Palpatine says as he paced around the room, Athena and Padmè never looked away from him " You could call for a vote of no confidence in Chancellor Valorum ".

" He has been our strongest supporter " Padmè says.

" Our only other choice would be to summit a plea to the courts " Palpatine says.

" But the courts take even longer to decide things than the senate " Athena says " Our people are dying, Senator ".

" We must do something quickly to stop the federation " Padmè says, Palpatine turns around as he continues to pace back and forth.

" To be realistic, your majesties. I think we're going to have to accept federation control for the time being " Palpatine says as he turned to face Athena and Padmè.

" That is something, we couldn't do " Athena and Padmè say at the same time.

⎯

" My conclusion can be that, it was a Sith Lord " Qui-Gon says to the Jedi Council as he and Obi-Wan stood in the centre of the round room, the council sat on the edges of the room all eyes on the two Jedi.

" Impossible, the Sith have been extinct for a millennium " One council member says.

" I do not believe, the Sith could have returned without us knowing " another council member named Mace Windu says.

" Ahh, hard to see. The dark side is " Jedi Master Yoda says.

" We will use all our resources to unravel this mystery " Windu says " We will discover the identity of your attacker, May the force be with you ".

Obi-Wan bows while Qui-Gon bows only his head, there was still more he wanted to talk about, Qui-Gon stays where he is standing and Obi-Wan leaves the room.

Master Qui-Gon, more to say have you? " Yoda asked.

" With your permission, my master. I have encountered a vergence in the force " Qui-Gon says.

" A vergence, you say " Yoda questioned.

" Located around a person? " Windu asked.

" Persons " Qui-Gon says " A boy and a girl, the boy's cells have the highest concentration of midi-chlorians I have seen in a life form, It is possible he was conceived by the mid-chlorians. As for the girl's concentration of midi-chlorians it's about 19,000 which is slightly higher than a normal Jedi but I don't know much about her ".

" You refer to the prophecy of the one who will bring balance to the force " Windu says " And you believe it's the boy ".

" I don't presume to- " Qui-Gon began to say.

" But you do " Yoda says " Revealed your opinion is ".

" I request the boy to be tested, Master. The girl be tested as well, if she chooses to do so. She is at a crossroads and has not chosen her path yet " Qui-Gon says.

" Ohh trained as a Jedi, you request for them. Hmm " Yoda says.

" Finding them was the will of the force, I have no doubt about that " Qui-Gon says truthfully.

The Jedi Council looked around at each other as Windu sighed and says " Bring the boy before us, then. The girl of she chooses this path ".

Satisfied with their answer, Qui-Gon bowed before leaving the meeting. Obi-Wan followed behind him as Yoda and Windu shared a look.

⎯

" There's a boy here to see, Athena " a guard outside of the Queen and Princess's room says into his communicator, Anakin patiently stood by the guard waiting.

" Let him in " a woman says as the guard opens the door so Anakin could enter.

" I'm sorry Ani, but Athena's not here right now " a maid says to Anakin apologetically.

Athena and Padmè look at each other as she squeezed Athena's hand, the sister walked out to the front of the room, Where Anakin and the maid were.

" Who is it? " Padmè asked.

" Anakin Skywalker, here to see Athena. Your Highness " the maid answered, Anakin immediately bowed to Athena and Padmè as soon as he saw them.

" I've sent Athena and Padmè on an errand " Padmè says.

" I'm on my way to the Jedi temple to start my training, I hope " Anakin says " I may never see her again, especially if she chooses to not go. So I came to say goodbye ".

" We will be sure to tell her for you " Athena says " We are sure her heart goes with you ".

" Thank you, Your Highness " Anakin says smiling, Athena smiles at him Before her and Padmè walked away for their next meeting.