AU where Padme was another one of Palpatine’s apprentices (in the loosest sense of the word, because Sidious, of course, less had apprentices, and more had tools: Maul a machete, Dooku a rapier, Vader a tactical warhead, and Padme a scalpel)
Episode one plays out effectively the same (Padme takes a little longer before returning to Naboo, ramping up casualties, and doesn’t seriously attempt to press charges on the Trade Federation afterwards. This cements Sheev’s and Padme’s reputation as tragic but noble leaders, with Sheev as the strong protector and Padme as the republic representative crying out for protection. Desire for a military increases relative to canon, and so does the perception of the trade federation as a Titan).
Episode two plays out identically, with Padme making the same character choices and saying the same lines, only they, uh, actually make a bit more sense. (Padme is somewhat bemused that after years of training as a femme fatale, her biggest mark is also her easiest). The film ends with the galaxy at war and the Chosen One firmly in the grasp of the Sith.
During the clone wars, Anakin is weirdly both worse off and better off than canon. Worse off for the obvious reasons, in that he now has two people actively subtly encouraging him to forget about empathy and revel in violence. Better off in that Padme is starting to become conflicted (because this is a story and obviously the seductress has to start actually developing feelings for the sucker she’s stringing along). Padme’s darker side starts leaking out in a less calculated manner, since she just wants her dark prince already.
And Anakin is at his best when he’s helping others.
When Darth Konigin acts more aggressively, losing patience with her ‘reluctantly violent pacifist facade’ and makes to shoot an unarmed man, Anakin becomes calmer, negotiating peace. When she speaks bitterly about the republic and sentient life in general, Anakin points out hope, taking her for a romantic dinner made by some humble refugees of the Hutts who found freedom in the republic. When Padme actively encourages him to kill the fools who dared take her captive, Anakin becomes more righteous, making sure they get a fair trial.
So you get this odd dynamic of Anakin behaving more consistently in a moral manner the more obviously evil Padme acts because, hey, everyone has moments of uncontrollable violence! Anakin’s a good husband and is determined to be the Obi-Wan moral backbone so she isn’t kept awake at night by guilt! There’s also a bit more emotional honesty on Anakin’s side, as he isn’t even vaguely trying to conceal his darkest thoughts because she really gets it <3 <3 <3
At a loss for getting him to fall, Padme reluctantly goes off birth control, because there ain’t no leverage like helpless infant leverage.
Episode three stays the same until Anakin finds out Palpatine is the Sith Lord. After telling Master Windu and being ordered ordered to stay behind, he immediately runs off to Padme (who really <3 gets <3 internal conflict).
Padme, a true Sith, decides to betray her Master at this point, stalling the Chosen One in the hopes the Jedi will manage to weaken or kill her Master (she know that she’s no more essential than Dooku, and as soon as Anakin falls…). Pretends to go into labor; the two fly to Naboo. Palpatine, outmatched, flees and activates Order 66. Without Anakin in the mix, the battle for the temple is a lot more prolonged. Mace Windu survives, smuggling out—you know what, this is getting kinda long so I’m just gonna cut it here.
Have you got color in your cheeks?
Do you ever get that fear that you can’t shift the type
That sticks around like summat in your teeth?
Are there some aces up your sleeve?
Have you no idea that you’re in deep?
I’ve dreamt about you nearly every night this week
How many secrets can you keep?
