"I'll be alright Obi-Wan," Padme said softly, as she and Obi-Wan stood in the doorway at the back of the house. Padme's ship had been brought along by Captain Panaka who had once been Padme's bodyguard and was a very good friend of hers. He had parked the sleek ship in the large field at the back of her house.

"This is something I must do myself." She hugged Obi-Wan, then walked down to the ship, which was all ready for her. she glanced back at Obi-Wan to make sure he was staying behind like he had promised, then she climbed the ramp, followed by C-3PO her protocol droid. The ship's engines started and the ramp began to retract.

Now! Obi-Wan thought, as he ran towards her ship and leaped. He had closed the door behind him, so if Padme looked out now, she would think he had returned inside.

Obi-Wan landed on the end of the ramp and dove into the ship just before the outside door closed. Padme and her droid were in the cockpit. They didn't see him enter, and by the time the ship was safely in space, Obi-Wan had found a place to hide. All he had to do now was wait for Padme to take him to Anakin.

oOo

Even from space, Mustafar glowed like a hot ember. As her ship neared the surface, Padme saw rivers of lava and oceans of molten rock. FIssures leaked fire from the heart of the planet, and smoke rose from cracks and vents on the blackened surface. It was hard to control the skiff in the shifting air currents, but eventually C-3PO fought it to a safe landing.

Padme paused for a moment. What on earth would he be doing here? I must have got it wrong! She told herself. But then her doubts were proven wrong by the tall, cloaked figure of Anakin running eagerly to meet her.

Hastily she unstrapped herself and ran out to meet him. His embrace was reassuring. His arms made her feel secure once more.

"It's alright," he murmered in her ear. "You're safe now."

She looked up gratefully into his flashing blue eyes, but they no longer existed. Instead, evil yello had replaced the cool blue that she was always used too.

"What are you doing out here?" he asked at last. All the things she had been pushing to the back of her mind since leaving Naboo came flooding back to her and she was forced to look down, at the crumbling platform beneath their feet.

"I...I was scared I would lose you. I saw you doing terrible things, in my dreams."

"What things?" Anakin said, stiffening.

"I saw you killing the Seperatists...and...and younglings," she blurted out. Her voice sounded accusing, even to her own ears. This wasn't how she had meant to ask him for the truth.

"They deserved to die," Anakin said, and Padme heard the stirring of a terrible anger in his voice.

"Even the poor younglings? Anakin, some of them were no more than three years old!"

"I don't care. Our Master told us to leave none alive, so I didn't."

"YOUR Master Anakin," Padme said firmly, taking Anakin by surprise.

"My Master was right. You've changed. You're a traitor! " He pulled away from her in disgust.

"Anakin, please. I love you. And all I want is your love in return."

"Love won't save you Padme. Only my new powers can do that."

"At what cost Anakin? Come back to the light! Don't do this!"

"I won't lose you the way I lost my mother!"

"Anakin, her death was not your fault. Come back to the real world. Stop blaming yourself for every little thing that's gone wrong in your life." she found herself yelling in frustration.

"You don't know the power of the dark side!"

"Yes I do! I've been there remember! And it was wrong. The dark side isn't powerful! Why is it that light can penetrate the darkness, but darkness cannot penetrate the light!"

"The Jedi turned against me. Don't you turn against me!"

I'm not against you Anakin, but you are going down a path I do not wish to follow...again! I gave up my life for you the first time and it led to nothing but pain and suffering!

"I'm not against you Anakin! It doesn't have to be this way. Please, stop now, come back! I love you!" She couldn't keep the desperation out of her voice, and for a moment she felt a change in the Force.

There is still hope then! I can feel it!

For the barest moment she thought she was succeeding in bringing back the Anakin that she had known and loved.

But then Anakin's expression changed to one of utmost rage as he spotted something behind her.

"Liar!" he cried. Padme turned to see Obi-Wan standing in the doorway of her ship.

He lied to me! He tricked me!

"No!" she cried, but she knew that Anakin would never listen to her now. Anakin raised his hand and curled his fingers into a fist. The tighter he closed his fingers, the tighter the invisible grip became around Padme's throat.

"You're with him. You brought him here to kill me!"

"No!" she gasped again as Anakin lifted her off her feet and threw her against the wall of the building. She collapsed onto the floor in an unconscious heap, leaving Anakin free to direct all his attention back to Obi-Wan.

oOo

Obi-Wan ran forwards as Padme collapsed, but Anakin stepped between him and the fallen senator.

"You turned her against me!" he cried, flinging the accusation at Obi-Wan.

"You have done that yourself!" Obi-Wan retorted.

"You will not take her from me!" Anakin yelled, circling Obi-Wan and throwing off his cloak.

"Your greed and your lust for power have already done that." Obi-Wan threw his cloak off aswell. "You have let this darkness twist your mind until now...until now you are the very thing you swore to destroy!"

Obi-Wan circled aswell, and at last he came beside Padme. Anakin had his back turned, so Obi-Wan bent down and layed a hand on Padme's forehead.

She's going to be alright. That's a miracle!

"I have brought freedom, peace, justice and security to my new empire!" Anakin was shouting, to no-one in particular.

"Your new Empire!" Obi-Wan echoed sarcastically.

"Don't make me kill you!" Anakin said, turning back to face Obi-Wan who was standing once again.

Surely there must be a small trace of Anakin left in that monster, for him to say that? The words had struck directly to Obi-Wan's heart and he felt a tiny glimmer of hope.

"Anakin, my allegiance is to the Republic, to Democracy!" He had said those words before, to Padme, just before she turned back. But Obi-Wan could sense that those words alone would not be enough this time. Anakin was filled with too much hate and rage.

"If you are not with me, then you are my enemy!"

Anakin's words sealed his fate.

"Only a Sith deals in absolutes." Obi-Wan pulled his saber from his belt. "I shall do what I must!"

"You will try!" Anakin taunted, drawing his own saber and leaping through the air to land directly infront of Obi-Wan.

The two fought furiously, knowing each other's favourite moves from the countless times they had sparred together whilst still Master and apprentice.

Obi-Wan didn't have to even think which moves Anakin would pull because it was so familiar to him. The look on Anakin's face showed that he felt the same way, except now they weren't sparing for practice, they were fighting to the death.