Early one morning, in the Naboo district, there lived a young woman by the name of Padme Naberrie.

Today was a very important day for Padme; she was among a few young ladies who were set to meet the matchmaker who would inspect them and match them with suitable husbands. It was an ancient custom that men were the ones bearing arms, while women took care of the homes.

However, in recent years, there was an increase of women fighting against this custom. Nevertheless, the matchmaking process was still being done.

Padme studied the qualities that were customary.

"Quiet and demure, graceful, polite, delicate, refined, poised, punctual."

Just then, a timer started beeping as Padme was studying.

"Oh my goodness! I'm gonna be late!" Padme panicked. "R2, where are you?"

Padme ran into the hall as she rushed to get her shoes on. She called for R2 again, and then a little silver and blue astromech droid entered into the room.

The little droid beeped happily when he saw Padme.

"There you are." Padme smiled. "Aren't you just a cute little droid?"

Padme picked up a cloth and wiped off R2's top.

"Think you can help me with my chores before I go?"

Padme brought R2 outside and took out a special container with holes on top and gave it to R2, who then began shaking the little container and sprinkling chicken feed all around. And R2 got a little playful as he danced around and spread chicken feed.
____________________

Meanwhile, in a gazebo, there was an older man by the name of Ruwee Naberrie. Padme's father.

In this gazebo sat many emerald gravestones containing names and some pictures of Naberrie ancestors who perished long ago.

Ruwee knelt and prayed for a miracle. The Naberrie family was very well-known throughout the land for having many of the strongest fighters in the army, and the most beautiful daughters who gave birth to sons of great strength as well.

His elder daughter Sola already married a good man years ago and birthed two lovely girls. Padme, on the other hand, was a bit more of a challenge. She was always saying how she wanted to be more than just a wife and/or mother. But society would hear nothing of it.

"Please let Padme impress the matchmaker today." Ruwee prayed as R2 suddenly rushed in with the chickens pecking at their food. He ignored the clucking chickens, however, and continued praying. "Please, please help her."

Just then, Padme arrived with a teapot and cup.
"Daddy, I brought your tea." Padme called, pouring a cup. "Remember, the doctor said three cups in the morning and three at night."

"Padme," said Ruwee. "You should already be in town. We're all counting on you-"

"To uphold the family honor," Padme finished. "Don't worry, Daddy. I've got this. Wish me luck!"

And Padme ran to get to town.

"Hurry!" Ruwee called. He sighed and decided he would pray some more.
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Meanwhile, Padme's mother Jobal was waiting at the salon.

Just then, a blue Twilek woman named Aayla Secura came out. She was a Jedi, but because she was female, she was no exception to the societal expectations of gender roles.

"Jobal, is your daughter here yet?" asked Aayla. "The matchmaker is not a patient woman."

"Ugh! Of all days to be late." Jobal groaned. "I should've prayed to the ancestors for luck."

"How lucky can they be?" said Jocasta Nu, Padme and Sola's old nanny and an old friend of the family. "They're dead."

Jocasta held up a little cage with a cricket in it.

"I've got all the luck we'll need right here." said Jocasta.

And to Jobal's terror, Jocasta tested the cricket's luck by walking across the street with her eyes shut. She survived, but many crashed or swerved.

"Very lucky indeed." Jocasta chuckled.

Soon, Padme arrived on the family horse Armorous.

"I'm here!" Padme said, getting down, but she had bits of hay in her hair.

Jobal gave a scolding look.

"Mama, I-" Padme started but was interrupted by her mother.

"None of your excuses." said Jobal, guiding her daughter into the salon. "Let's get you cleaned up."

Padme was brought into the salon, where Aayla took a look at her and saw they had work to do.

Aayla:
This is what you give me to work with
Well, honey, I've seen worse
We're going to turn this sow's ear

Aayla took Padme behind a bamboo divider and had Padme undressed and placed into a bath.

Into a silk purse

"It's freezing!" Padme shivered.

"It would've been warm if you were here on time." Jobal said.

Aayla then poured in a bucket of freshly heated water to heat up the water some and got out the shampoo and conditioner.

Aayla:
We'll have you washed and dried
Primped and polished
Till you glow with pride
Trust me recipe for instant bride
You'll bring honor to us all

One Padme was washed, dried, and dressed, she was brought to have her hair fixed up by twins Tiplee and Tiplar.

Tiplee:
Wait and see
When we're through
Tiplar:
Boys will gladly go to war for you
Tiplee:
With good fortune

Padme's hair was tied up into a bun with a braided crown that made her look like a princess.

Tiplar:
And a great hairdo
Tiplee, Tiplar, and Jobal:
You'll bring honor to us all

Padme and her mother exited the salon as they came across other girls who were being prepared for the matchmaker.

Villagers:
A girl can bring her family
Great honor in one way

Padme stopped as she saw two men playing Dejarik, and she made a very smart move, which surprised both players.

By striking a good match
And this could be the day

Padme was then fitted into a lovely blue and white dress, the most traditional color from the Naboo district, and very sacred to the Naberrie family.

Teckla:
Men want girls with good taste

Luminara: Calm

Jobal: Obedient

Luminara: Who work fast-paced

Jobal: With good breeding

Luminara: And a tiny waist

Padme gasped as the fabric was tightened around her waist to make her appear skinnier than she actually was.

Luminara, Teckla, and Jobal: You'll bring honor to us all

Villagers: We all must serve our Emperor
Who guards us from the Sith

Padme saw as two boys took a tooka doll from a little girl. And she grabbed the toy and returned it to the girl.

A man by bearing arms
A girl by bearing sons

Padme was then brought to makeup artist Shaak Ti to be primped.

Shaak: When we're through
You can't fail

Jobal: Like a lotus blossom

Shaak: Soft and pale

Jobal: How could any fellow

Shaak: Say "no sale"

Padme looked at herself in the mirror and saw she'd been placed in makeup that made her skin very pale white with bits of pink blush on her cheeks, her lips painted rose red, and mascara on her eyes. She was also fitted with diamond earrings to bring out her eyes. Padme, however, fixed a single loose strand of her hair to top the look to her liking.

And then, Jobal topped Padme's hair with a beautiful white flower comb.

Shaak & Jobal: You'll bring honor to us all

Jobal: There, you're ready

Jocasta then came in with various items on her.

Jocasta: Not yet
An apple for serenity
A pendant for balance
Beads of jade for beauty

Jocasta placed the butterfly pendant on Padme's dress and a beautiful green jade necklace around her neck and held Padme's chin up for pride.

You must proudly show it

Then Jocasta added a finishing touch, attaching the cage with the cricket to Padme's belt.

Now add a cricket just for luck
And even you can't blow it

Padme, however, still felt very anxious about this whole ordeal. Her family was counting on her.

Padme:
Ancestors
Hear my plea
Help me not to make a
Fool of me
And to not uproot
My family tree
Keep my father standing tall

Padme then saw a line of other well-dressed young women waiting to meet the matchmaker.

Padme & girls:
Scarier than the undertaker
We are meeting our matchmaker
Destiny
Guard our girls
And our future
As it fast unfurls
Please look kindly on
These cultured pearls
Each a perfect porcelain doll
Please bring honor to us
(Please bring honor to us)
Please bring honor to us
(Please bring honor to us)
Please bring honor to us all

All the girls then opened their bumbershoots and knelt to wait their turns.

Out came a large, very snobby-looking woman with her pen and pad.

"Padme Naberrie." the matchmaker called.

"Present." Padme said, getting up.

"Speaking without permission." the matchmaker noted.

"Oops." Padme groaned as she walked up to the building.

"Who spit in her bean curd?" Jocasta whispered to Jobal.

The doors were shut and the meeting began.
____________________
The matchmaker inspected Padme head to toe. She looked like a bride by her standards. Mostly.

"Too skinny." said the matchmaker, writing it down. "Not good for bearing sons."

However, Padme quickly noticed her cricket escaped. She looked around for it, but didn't see it anywhere.

Please don't blow this for me, cricket. Padme whispered in her mind.

"Recite the final admonition." the matchmaker instructed.

Padme nodded and took out her fan. She was nervous, but she'd rehearsed this day and night.

"Fulfill your duties calmly and respectfully. Reflect before you act. This shall bring you honor and glory." she recited.

"Mmm-hmm. Good. This way."

The matchmaker then brought Padme to a table and brought out a teapot.

"Now, pour the tea. To please your future in-laws, you must demonstrate a sense of dignity and refinement." The matchmaker lectured as Padme carefully poured a cup of tea. "You must be poised."

However, Padme quickly noticed as the matchmaker picked up her teacup, the cricket was inside.

"Um, pardon me?" Padme said quietly.

"And silent!" the matchmaker barked.

"But there's a cricket!" Padme said.

That startled the matchmaker and made her spill hot tea on her dress.

"Agh! You clumsy little-oh!" the matchmaker felt a tickly, unpleasant sensation as the cricket crawled around in her clothes, and she ended up back into some hot coals.

Padme tried to cool her down with her fan, but only succeeded in setting the back of the matchmaker's dress on fire.

From outside, people could hear screaming as the commotion went on inside.

"I hope everything is okay in there." Jocasta said worriedly.

And out burst the matchmaker with her skirt on fire, screaming "Put it out!" over and over again until Padme tossed the pot of tea and put out the fire, but also messed up the matchmaker's hair and makeup.

Padme gave the matchmaker the teapot and bowed respectfully before quickly leaving in shame.

The matchmaker angrily shattered the teapot on the ground as she confronted Padme.

"You are a disgrace!" shouted the matchmaker. "You may look like a bride, but you will never bring your family honor!"

Padme looked down with great shame in her eyes, and a single tear fell, smearing a bit of mascara down her cheek.