An evil laugh pierced the air as the Emperor appeared at the top of the stairs. The clone army split in two, forming a pathway down the middle, which the Emperor proceded to walk down, very slowly and very deliberately. Anakin couldn't bare the wait any longer and wanted to just charge in and get it over with, but Obi-Wan held him back. He had sensed Anakin's growing unease and knew that Anakin could possibly be the only Jedi on this platform who had something to live for and everything to lose.

Sure, the other Jedi had their training, their mentoring, their Jedi life, but Anakin had more. He had a wife, two beautiful kids, a home...and he was happy, he was the happiest Obi-Wan had ever seen, or felt him.

"I can't do it Obi-Wan." Anakin sobbed and tears had started to run down his face. "I can't leave her with this monster still alive."

"Then we take him together. Remove him, and the whole army will fall apart." Obi-Wan whispered back, placing a hand on Anakin's strong shoulder, which was shuddering violently as he fought back even more tears.

"I know you love her Anakin, but remember what she said to you before you left?" Anakin shook his head. The only words he could ever remember Padme saying at that moment were "I love you."

"She said that courage is not the absence of fear..."

"But the determination to continue on regardless of that fear." Anakin finished and smiled again as he remembered, wiping a tear from his eye.

"Yes Anakin. Don't you see, she wasn't just re-telling some wise old quote. She was telling you exactly how she was feeling at that moment too."

"What do you mean Mas...Obi-Wan." Anakin asked, looking up.

"She's as frightened as you Anakin, but she knew that she had to be strong for your sake, so now you have to be strong for hers."

Anakin thought about this for a moment then nodded in agreement, looking back to his blue blade that he held infront of him. It hummed quietly, and surged with power. With this weapon Anakin thought I could destroy the one last threat to Padme and save her forever.

As the Jedi slowly began to move forwards, the clones opened fire and the ranks were broken.

Battle had begun.

"Let's do it!" Anakin called to Obi-Wan and Obi-Wan grinned.

"It'll be just like old times!" he shouted back as they charged forwards together, into the clones, scattering them like skittles.