Star Wars: A Hero's Downfall

Chapter 4: One Dreadful Reunion

A Naboo skiff landed on the Mustafar landing platform near Anakin's green starfighter. Puzzled, Anakin ran up to the skiff as the ramp lowered.

Padme ran out of the ship and embraced Anakin tightly.

"Padme," Anakin said. "I saw your ship."

"Oh, Anakin!" Padme said as they broke free from the hug.

"It's all right, you're safe now." Anakin assured. "What are you doing out here?" He asked.

"I was so worried about you." Padme said. "Obi-Wan told me terrible things."

Anakin raised an eyebrow. "What things?" He asked suspiciously.

"He said you have turned to the dark side," Padme recalled. "That...that you killed younglings."

"Obi-Wan is trying to turn you against me." Anakin falsely assured.

"He cares about us." Padme insisted.

"Us?" Anakin said, bewildered.

"He knows." Padme confirmed. "He wants to help you."

"Is Obi-Wan going to protect you?" Anakin asked. "He can't...he can't help you. He's not strong enough." He said.

"Anakin, all I want is your love." Padme said.

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

"But at what cost?" She asked. "You are a good person. Don't do this." She pleaded.

"I won't lose you the way I lost my mother!" Anakin said. "The way I lost Ahsoka! I've become more powerful than any Jedi has ever dreamed of and I've done it for you. To protect you."

"Come away with me." Padme pleaded. "Help me raise our child. Leave everything else behind while we still can." She offered.

"Don't you see? We don't have to run away anymore." Anakin assured. "I have brought peace to the Republic. I am more powerful than the Chancellor. I, I can overthrow him, and together you and I can rule the galaxy. Make things the way we want them to be."

Padme slowly stepped away from him, shaking her head. "I don't believe what I'm hearing. Obi-Wan was right. You've changed." She sobbed.

Anakin grunted.c"I don't want to hear any more about Obi-Wan. The Jedi turned against me." He said. "Don't you turn against me!" He warned.

"I don't know you anymore." Padme said, tears ran down her cheeks. "Anakin, you're breaking my heart. I'll never stop loving you, but you are going down a path I can't follow."

"Because of Obi-Wan?" Anakin assumed.

"Because of what you've done...what you plan to do. Stop, stop now. Come back! I love you." Padme pleaded.

Anakin glanced back at the ship and saw two figures standing on the boarding ramp.

"Liar!" Anakin yelled.

Padme turned around and saw Obi-Wan and Ahsoka standing in the doorway of the Naboo Cruiser.

"No!" Padme said.

"You're with him. You've betrayed me! You brought him here to kill me!" Anakin assumed.

"No! Anakin. I swear...I-" Padme started to say but Anakin used the Force to strangle her.

"No!" Ahsoka cried. "Anakin, let her go!" She started forward but Obi-Wan stopped her. "She didn't know we're here." She assured.

"Let her go, Anakin!" Obi-Wan said.