Padme emerged from one side of the grand staircase, dressed in a beautiful gown as gold and orange like a beautiful sunrise, whereas Caroline was midnight blue like a summer night sky.
The twins emerged from the other side and greeted their ladies with a smile. Each took a girl's hand and walked down the stairs.
Zam: Tale as old as time
True as it can be
Barely even friends
Then somebody bends
Unexpectedly
The two couples sat at the dinner table as music was played for them, and they soon entered the ballroom.
Just a little change
Small to say the least
Both a little scared
Neither one prepared
Beauty and the beast
Padme showed Anakin how to hold her in the dance, and together, they, as well as Carmine and Caroline, danced ever so gracefully.
Ever just the same
Ever a surprise
Ever as before and ever just as sure as the sun will rise
(Oh, oh, oh, oh)
Ever just the same
Ever a surprise
Ever as before
Ever just as sure
As the sun will rise
(Oh, oh, oh)
Tale as old as time (ooh, ooh, ooh)
Tune as old as song
Bittersweet and strange
Finding you can change
Learning you were wrong
Caroline found herself leaning closer into Carmine's chest as they danced, and the same went for Padme with Anakin.
Obi-Wan and Mace smiled at the twins as their plans were working.
Certain as the sun
Certain as the sun
Rising in the east
Tale as old as time
Song as old as rhyme
Beauty and the beast
Obi-Wan dimmed the candlelight slightly to be more romantic.
Tale as old as time
Song as old as rhyme
Beauty and the beast
(Oh, oh, oh-oh)
(Ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh)
"Off to the cupboard with you, Boba." Zam said as Boba started yawning. "It's past your bedtime."
"Come on, son." Jango said, gently picking up the little teacup in his metal hands. And he carried him to the cupboard.
—————————————————————————
The princes and their ladies each went to separate areas.
Anakin and Padme stepped outside, both of them blushing madly as they sat a short distance from each other.
Anakin brushed back his hair and looked at Padme.
"Padme...?" He took her hand. "Are you... happy here with me?"
"Yes." Padme said. "I am very happy here. Especially knowing that my parents are welcome here. Your family is very wonderful."
—————————————————————————
Meanwhile, Carmine brought Caroline to a room filled with musical instruments, and Harmony spun around playing beautiful music.
"I must admit," said Caroline. "You're unlike any man my father tried setting me up with. Very persistent."
Carmine blushed and brushed back his mane.
"Well, I can't say I've met a lot of women as brave as you." Carmine said. "Nor did a lot of women give me much reason to pursue them. Unlike other girls who just ran away from me, you didn't scream in terror. The real challenge was proving that I could be the prince you deserve."
Caroline smiled, looking at him. But then she looked down.
"What is it?" Carmine asked.
"It's just... Padme's family knows where she is and that they can return. But... my father doesn't. I miss him. If only for a moment I could see him again."
Carmine then though and recalled a way.
—————————————————————————
Carmine brought Caroline to the West Wing, where he picked up the handheld mirror that sat by the rose.
"This mirror will show you anything." Carmine explained. "Anything you wish to see."
Caroline held the mirror.
"I'd like to see my father, please." Caroline told it.
The mirror glowed, and it showed her... her father. But he was in the forest, calling for her on their horse Lavendera.
Caroline gasped.
"Daddy. He's looking for me." Caroline said. "Padme's family must not have told him where I am. Show me Jobal and Ruwee Naberrie."
The mirror glowed again, and this time, it showed her...
Padme's parents were being forced into an asylum wagon, being called crazy by the villagers.
"Padme needs to be warned!"
Caroline ran without hesitation to find Padme.
—————————————————————————
Padme and Anakin were hitting it off pretty well.
Anakin looked into Padme's eyes and did something he'd never tried before. The full moon was now behind the clouds, which meant it was perfectly fine for his next move.
Truth be told, Anakin could actually remove his mask at any time, but he never told this to anyone out of fear that he may go crazy and bite someone.
Anakin removed his mask and leaned forward. To Padme's surprise, she found herself leaning forward too and closing her eyes. But, just as their lips were about to touch...
"Padme!" Caroline exclaimed, interrupting the moment.
"Caroline? What's wrong?" Padme asked.
Caroline showed Padme what was happening in the mirror with her parents.
"My parents, they need me." Padme said.
Anakin and Carmine looked at each other, both of them thinking the same thing.
"Go. Go to your families." Anakin said.
The girls were surprised by this. Neither of them could believe they were being told to leave now.
Caroline was about to give the mirror to Carmine, but he told her to keep it.
"So you'll always have a way to look back and remember us." said Carmine.
"Thank you for understanding how much they need us." Padme smiled.
And so, Padme and Caroline ran as fast as they could to get to their parents.
That was also when Mace arrived.
"Your highnesses. I must say, everything is going smoothly." said the clock. "We all knew you had it in you."
"We let them go." Anakin confessed.
"You what?!"
"We had to." said Carmine.
"But why?"
"Because I love Caroline."
"And I love Padme." said Anakin.
—————————————————————————
"They did what?!" gasped the others when Mace told them.
"They're going away?" said Boba.
"I'm afraid it's true." Mace said sadly.
"We were so close." Obi-Wan sighed.
"After all this time, they've finally found girls who love them." Zam said.
"Then that should break the spell," said Jango.
"It's not enough." said Kara. "They must love them back. Now it's probably too late."