This is a story I have been planning for a while and finally got started on writing after I told my friend about it. She basically scared me into doing this with her enthusiasm. *whispers* I'm afraid for my life if I don't get it done!
Summary: AU. After Anakin wins the duel on Mustafar he lets Obi-Wan live, and lives a double life as Darth Vader, unknown to his family. All of that changes when he and Padme's third child learns about his secret life. She intends to follow in her fathers steps as a Jedi and help the galaxy, no matter what he or the Emperor say.
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Obi-Wan Kenobi couldn't believe it had come to this. Here he was, standing on the landing platform of Mustafar, preparing to battle his former Padawan, the man he considered his brother. Padme laying unconscious on the ground near him, her swollen stomach a testament to how far gone his brother was, that he would choke his pregnant wife. Anakin himself was pacing back and forth in front of him, his eyes a sickly yellow that pained Obi-Wan greatly.
"Oh, Ani," he thought, "How did we get here?"
Unconsciously, he reached across their bond, seeking answers. He was violently thrown backwards by Anakin, pulses of anger stabbing his mind and leaving him staggering were he stood. That seemed to reach Anakin, however minimally, and he spoke to Obi-Wan, a hint of desperation in his tone.
"Please, Obi-Wan. Join me. Together we can bring peace and prosperity to the Galaxy. We can overthrow Sidious and build a new, better Jedi Oder. One that isn't tainted by corruption." He pleaded with Obi-Wan eagerly, reminding the older man of when he was a child. "It is the only way. If you're not with me, you're my enemy."
The words hit Obi-Wan like hammers to the heart, shattering the little hope he had been clinging to.
"Only a Sith deals in absolutes."
Anakin was now standing with his back to him, as he had turned around during his little speech, unable to handle the look on the face of his brother. Now, his shoulders tensed and his voice turned hard. "Don't make me kill you."
Tears brimming in his eyes, Obi-Wan unclipped his lightsaber from his belt and replied, "I will do what I must," as he ignited his blade.
"You will try." snarled Vader, all traces of Anakin disappearing beneath the anger. He to pulled out his saber and ignited it, the sapphire blade shining. He leaped backward, flipping through the air to come face to face with his former master, their blades clashing fiercely.
The battle raged as they fought their way into the planets factory control room. With every strike of their swords Obi-Wan felt pieces of his heart cracking and screaming in agony. It was killing him inside to fight is brother like this, and he desperately wished that Yoda had allowed him to fight Sidious instead. Anything would have been better than seeing this, this mockery of his friend.
Vader was like some horrible parasite, living inside Anakin's body. Using his face, his voice, his skill, and twisting everything he had once stood for. Ani, the little boy he had raised, trained and loved was gone. All those years of friendship and brotherhood had been stolen away.
The fight surged outside and, ultimately, onto the flowing lava river.
Both were balanced on the river, Obi-Wan on debris and Anakin on a small droid, floating down the river as is bubbled around them. Their eyes locked, the spouts of lava erupting from the river seeming to go unnoticed.
They faced each other, starring into to sets of eyes they had known so well. One stained with tears, the other died yellow.
"I have failed you Anakin, I have failed you." said Obi-Wan, hating himself for letting his little brother down. As far as he was concerned, this was all his fault.
"I should have known the Jedi were plotting to take over." Anakin replied icily, hiding behind the mask of Vader. That was easier than facing the pain in his brother's eyes. So, so much easier.
"Anakin, Chancellor Palpatine is evil!" yelled Obi-Wan, hoping desperately to get through to him. He just had to. He needed his brother, as selfish as it sounded. Obi-Wan needed him.
"From my point of view the Jedi are evil!" Even now, when he wanted nothing more than to agree with him, fall on his knees and beg for forgiveness, for help, Anakin held fast to the twisted beliefs. For Padme. He was doing this for Padme. For their child.
For his family.
Pain filled Obi-Wan and before he knew it he was verbally lashing out at Anakin. "Then you are lost!"
Steel filled the blonde's heart, and once again Vader stepped to the forefront. "This is the end for you, my Master." he said.
With that, the lull in battle was over. They raced down the river, blades clashing every time they came close enough. When Vader got the chance he jumped in the air, flipping over Obi-Wan's head to land on the other edge of the piece of debris.
Obi-Wan hesitated, unable to take the opportunity presented by his former Padawan's instability. That small moment was all it took for Vader to get his balance back, and so the battle continued. Still, in the back of his mind Vader could hear the voice of Anakin Skywalker, speaking words he didn't want to hear.
"If he was really the enemy, why didn't he kill me? He had the chance."
"He is Obi-Wan, he is my friend, my brother.:
"Maybe he isn't the enemy?"
"Maybe Sidious lied?"
"He is Obi-Wan."
The thoughts were making Vader uncertain and he didn't want to be uncertain. Uncertainty meant weakness. Weakness was intolerable. He filled his mind with all the times Kenobi had berated him for something he hadn't done, all the times he held him back, all the times he failed him, letting those thoughts fuel his anger. Still, the voice of Anakin Skywalker persisted quietly in the back of his mind.
Obi-Wan kept up defensive actions as they fought, unable to bring himself to harm the one he considered his baby brother. When they drifted close enough to the river bank he took the opportunity to escape. He back flipped off the debris, landing on the hill, lightsaber still engaged.
"It's over Anakin! I have the high ground!"
"There he goes again," though Vader, "Trying to hold me back."
But not this time. This time he would show Kenobi. It wouldn't be difficult, he decided, as he took in the sight of Obi-Wan on the hill. He could do that. The plan formed quickly, as usual. Skywalker's persistent voice would not hinder him.
Obi-Wan's eyes widened in horror as he realised what Vader was planning.
"Don't try it." he pleaded, desperation in his voice.
The only response was a hateful glare, followed by a massive force assisted leap.
Even as Vader flipped overtop of him all Obi-Wan did was turn. He simply couldn't make himself raise his arm in the action that could save his life. If he did that… Well, even though he was faced with a Sith all he saw when he looked at the face was Anakin, his little brother. And he couldn't hurt Ani.
As the sapphire blade of his opponent headed down, the path clearly meant to slice his shoulder straight through his chest -an instant, savage kill- he stayed still. Their eyes met, and Obi-Wan was sure his time had come. Then - a change.
There were flecks of blue in those yellow eyes.
The blade changed course, cutting off Obi-Wan's arm instead of taking his life. He fell to his knees as pain like no other pierced his body. It clouded his vision and swamped his senses. All that kept him conscious was latching onto the sight of those blue eyes. Anakin's eyes were blue. Vader's were yellow. But he was seeing blue. Ani.
Anakin stared down at the man. He had him down, defeated, held at sword point. Kenobi's saber lay a little ways down the hill, disengaged and next to his lifeless limb. He noticed in a bit of a daze that he had done the exact same thing to Obi-Wan that Dooku had done to him, right down to the place of the injury. But why? Why hadn't he just killed him? He had had the perfect chance.
In his heart he knew why. He just couldn't do it. Obi-Wan was a brother to him. He was a part of Anakin's family. Anakin loved him, and that love wouldn't let him kill Obi-Wan. It was insisting that his brother be spared. Be saved despite his betrayal.
His heart and mind throbbed as the elder reached for their bond, reach for him. Anakin slammed him out, putting up mental and emotional shields. There was only one way to protect Obi-Wan. He had to do this. Steeling himself, he looked his brother in the eye and brought forth every bit of cruelty he held.
"Do you see now? I am more powerful than you or any other Jedi! My power is absolute!" He allowed arrogance to fill his voice, scoffing down at the Jedi.
"This is but a taste of what I can do. Now run away Kenobi. Death is to good for you. Flee into the galaxy and live knowing you have failed. I won't do you this kindness again. Cross my path again and I will kill you, Master."
Sneering out the title, he turned on his heel and walked away. Not once did he look back, even as a part of his heart clenched and died, going cold and empty.
Obi-Wan watched him go, gathering himself enough to yell, "You are my brother Anakin! I love you!"
After all, it was Anakin who had blue eyes, not Vader. That was all the hope he needed.
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Thoughts? Questions? Opinions? Critisms? Let me know! Please! I'd love some reviews, really I would. Any advice you can give me would be greatly appreciated, especially since I don't have a Beta. If anyone wants to fill that position, I'd be really grateful.
Updates will probably be sporadic and not very often since I write this in a notebook at school when I am done my work. Still, I will try to update as fast as I can, honest. Also, chapter lengths will vary.
Next Chapter: We learn more about what Anakin's new life is like and his third child is born.