There is no emotion, there is peace. There is no ignorance, there is knowledge. There is no passion, there is serenity. There is no chaos, there is harmony. There is no death, there is the Force.

Obi-Wan knew the words like the back of his hand and possibly better. Throughout his lifetime of training, he accepted no other mantra; he believed in its words as if it were the only truth. The Jedi Code was a part of him - it defined him.

Yet, ancient words could do nothing for him now.

A decade before, when he was a Padawan, he and his master briefly visited the desert planet of Tatooine. Even as a young man, he was exhausted; the troubles with the Trade Federation and the worries of the blockade weighed on him heavily. He had been a curious child, and he loved the guidance of his Master, but he longed for the day when he would become a teacher; he wanted to share with his own apprentice the beauties of the Force.

Tatooine was unlike any planet he had ever been to before. There were many times throughout his training he had been sent to the Outer Rim, but the desert was different. He had wandered out of the sleek Nubian yacht once or twice while he waited for his Master's return, but the two suns had made their impression. He could only imagine the effects the harsh heat had on his older Master.

He would never forget the wide range of emotions he felt the day his master brought back a young boy with him. The Force hummed around the child in deep shades of scarlet, and when he looked into his eyes, he wanted to run and hide far enough away so that evil could never find him again. But, the boy was to be the Chosen One, or so Qui-Gon Jinn had once believed.

Obi-Wan saw the way his Master looked at him, and he felt his heart sink. They had only known the boy for a day or so at most, and yet he felt as if he'd been replaced by a child. But, the boy was much too old, and far too headstrong to be accepted by the Council; that didn't seem to occur to Qui-Gon, however. Anakin Skywalker was the Padawan that he had always longed for.

On that dreadful day in Theed, he thought that things couldn't get worse. He replayed each moment in his mind, over and over, reimagining the situation so his master hadn't died in his arms. He could had saved him if he had just fought harder - if he hadn't been distracted by his emotions. However, contrary to what he once thought, losing his Master wasn't the hardest part. It was the promise that followed Qui-Gon into the afterlife that proved to be the biggest challenge: Obi-Wan was to train the boy his master had always wanted instead of him.

And, he did. Throughout Anakin's training, he shared Qui-Gon's knowledge of the Living Force, just as he knew his fallen Master would have wanted. Qui-Gon was a part of the boy, and each glance at him was painful, but also comforting. He could sense the way Anakin missed his mother and the fear that swelled throughout his being, but he kept training him, never once giving in to the grievances from the other members of the Jedi Order; Obi-Wan supported him - he loved him.

Even now, he still did. He sat in the cockpit of the dark Jedi Cruiser, his eyes unfocused, staring emptily into the infinity of hyperspace. His body shook with pain that wasn't his own, and he thought about how he had felt that fateful day in Theed; the ache was incomparable.

While he traveled, his thoughts drifted to Padmé. It felt like only minutes had passed since he had been in her apartment, asking her about Anakin's location. When he looked into her eyes, he knew: she loved Anakin. Somehow, he had always known. He supposed that his denial blinded him from the obvious truth before him. And, when his eyes fell to the curve of her stomach, his heart sank; he couldn't tell her what Anakin had done.

"Are you going to kill him?" Her voice quivered as she struggled to keep her tears behind her eyelids. It was no use. "Please don't hurt him."

His throat tightened; the thought sent a shiver down his spine. Even if he had to kill Anakin, he knew he'd be sacrificing his own conscience to do it - it was the last resort.

"I won't," The words tasted foul spewing from his somber tongue. He regretted learning her secret; it hadn't been meant for him, and he never wished to know it. When he looked at her, he didn't see the fearless queen from Naboo he had met all those years before. He didn't see the ruthless fighter he had been chained alongside on Geonosis. Instead, he saw a young woman who was terribly afraid. He didn't like the weakened side of her; he didn't like what Anakin had made of her.

Finally, he rose from the red velvet sofa, the soles of his boots shuffling against the tile, as he made his way toward the door. He stopped and turned back to face her, hoping to see her soft smile once more before venturing into the harshness of the Outer Rim. He parted his lips to apologize, or anything to break the awful silence, but he found no words to say. With crestfallen eyes, he watched as Padmé stood from her chair and padded across the room toward him.

"When will you return?" She asked, her voice laced with anxiety.

"It will take me a few days to get there…" He trailed off, unsure how to answer her. Only the Force knew how long it would be until he returned to Coruscant - if he returned.

Her solemn stare met his own as she stepped closer to him, extending her arms to place her hands on the sides of his face, the trimmed hairs of his beard scratching against her soft palms. "Bring him home," She whispered so softly that he hadn't been sure he'd heard her at first.

He gave her a respectful nod, but refused to meet her eyes. He would not make her that promise; he had sworn his life to too many oaths - maintaining peace, hindering emotion - and he wasn't going to make another he was not sure he could keep. His conscience couldn't bear another burden.

The transport landed on Mustafar, the heat welcoming him before he opened the door to the boarding ramp; the world oozed lava and the torridity suffocated him. He could sense Anakin in the distance, causing his heart to jump; no amount of meditation could have prepared him for that sensation. His mind raced as he calculated his first move (ever the strategist, he was). In the distance, appearing along the dark horizon, the outline of a fortress came into view, and he decided to begin his journey there.

His sword in hand, he made his way toward the garrison, his body tensing with each step. Remembering where he was, he became weary of violent Separatists that were potentially looming behind the walls. With his fingers curled around the defined hilt of his lightsaber, he trekked on, making as little noise as possible.

After a brief investigation, it surprised him to discover that the fortress was abandoned. He continued through the dark corridors, feeling Anakin's Force signature grow stronger. At the end of the hallway, he noticed a dark lump pressed against the corner of the brick wall. Cautiously, he approached, only to recognize the lifeless form as a Separatist, and he felt little sympathy for the fallen traitor.

CRASH! The noise echoed from the other end of the corridor. He whipped his head in the direction of the sound, watching as a few pieces of cracked ceiling fell to the ground. The dust floated its way toward him, and he coughed as the particles settled around him. Behind the veil of debris, a bright blue streak appeared, cloaked by the dust. His jaw tightened as he reached for his sword once again, reluctant to have to use it in such an improper manner.

"You've made a mistake in coming here," Anakin snarled, stepping into the dim light, yet still keeping himself separated from behind the fallen rubble. His fingers curled around his lightsaber, not expecting to need it; Obi-Wan wouldn't fight him.

"I'm afraid that it's you who is mistaken," He shifted his weapon in front of him, attempting to calm himself.

At the end of the corridor, Anakin chuckled darkly. After his laughter ceased, he sighed, shaking his head, "Are you really so blind to the evil ways of the Order?"

"Anakin, do you even hear yourself? The Jedi fight for peace! Our allegiance is to the Republic!"

Anakin's face turned hard as his eyes pierced through Obi-Wan, "If you really believe that, then you've become my enemy," He paused for a moment, shaking his head before he continued, "The Jedi are a pathetic bunch spewing their ancient rhetoric. They say the defend peace, but how can they cause this much pain toward one of their own and claim they care about peace? You did this to me, Obi-Wan; you made me do this! And now, I've come to hate you..."

He winced as he turned away. How could he have let this happen? Where did he go so wrong? When he looked at Anakin, he felt like the young man he had once been on Tatooine. He wanted to run and hide, but he couldn't - not now - the fate of the galaxy was far more important than him, and it was his duty to protect it.

"Anakin, you have been mislead! The lies you've come to believe were made to seduce you. If you give in to the dark side, then you will be a fool," His voiced cracked as his spoke, his throat barely taking in any air.

"The only fools are the Jedi," He snarled, shaking his head violently, his sweaty, matted hair flopping about, "I've seen the power of the dark side, and I know that only it can save the galaxy now."

Obi-Wan opened his mouth, but stopped himself. Anakin was not a diplomatic leader that could easily be negotiated; he was an emotional, headstrong young man that needed much more support than he had ever received. Emotion was the only way to bring him back.

"Anakin, think about Padmé and your child!" He regretted the words before they came out his mouth. His stomach flipped as he remembered the look in Padmé's eyes when she realized her husband was in danger.

Anakin snapped his head toward him, tightening his grasp on his weapon as he pointed the deactivated blade toward Obi-Wan. "What did you just say?"

"I know, Anakin," His voice laced with defeat, utter heartbreak in his eyes. He didn't care about the Jedi Code anymore. None of it mattered. "What do you think Padmé would say if she knew you were saying these things? You have married a woman that has devoted her life to peace - to democracy! Don't you think it would hurt her to see you now?"

"I am doing this for her; she'll die if I don't! You'd never understand, Obi-Wan, you've never loved anyone like I have."

If only he knew that way his heart ached for him. He loved him through it all - the good and the bad. He hated himself for letting his emotions get the best of him, he knew better than to succumb to his feelings. But, the way loving someone felt was too pure to forget. Anakin was the only thing he loved, and he himself was the only thing he hated - the eternal war that raged throughout his being.

He didn't want Anakin for himself; instead, he longed for the times when he would fix Anakin's Padawan braid, and explain to him the mysterious ways of the Force. He missed the only family he had ever known.

"Anakin," He shook his head, clearing his thoughts as he gave him an exasperated stare, "if you turn to the dark side, then you will kill her. This is not the way to save her… She needs you, Anakin, and she can't have you if you go down this dark path."

At the end of the corridor, Anakin fell to his knees, the dust floating around him. He lowered his head, refusing to look at his former Master while he kneeled in silence. He sensed Obi-Wan striding toward him, cautiously, as he extended his arm to place it on Anakin's shoulder.

Before he could touch the dark fabric of his over tunic, Anakin activated his lightsaber, but Obi-Wan was quicker. The two blue blades clashed against each other, buzzing violently at the sudden contact. This was not the way things were meant to be.

Obi-Wan could feel the burn in his arms, sweat dripping from his forehead. He was unable to maintain his upper body strength any longer, so he extended his leg, giving Anakin a powerful kick to the torso. With a grunt, he rolled backwards, his body crashing against the hard ground with a thud. The fall had shocked him, and he gasped frantically as he tried to get the air back into his body.

Wincing, Obi-Wan towered over him, holding his lightsaber above Anakin's chest. Before he could bring the blade any lower, he was sent flying backwards, his back slamming against the wall behind him. With a groan, he slid to the ground, breathing heavily. His entire back ached, and his head had banged against the brick, surely leaving a knot.

Before he could retaliate, Anakin springed up from his lowered position while he kept his invisible hold wrapped around Obi-Wan's throat. He walked toward him, loving the concept of having his former Master at his mercy. He could do whatever he wanted now; he was powerful. He lifted his lightsaber, holding it inches away from his face, so close that the radiant blue blade reflected against Obi-Wan's eyes.

HISS! The two swords clashed against each other once again, humming vigorously. His arms were shaking; his strength was incomparable to Anakin's due to his age. Closing his eyes, he tapped into the Force, using its power to send Anakin staggering backwards.

Unable to maintain his balance, he stumbled backwards, falling to the ground. The dust circled around him, settling just in time for him to notice he had lost his lightsaber. He looked up, watching Obi-Wan grab the weapon and clip it to his own belt. He had lost. He was no match to Obi-Wan's stronger control of the Force.

"It's over, Anakin; I'm sorry that it came to this," He paused for a moment, wondering what the Jedi Council would want him to do with Anakin. They wouldn't want him dead - no, they'd want to interrogate him. Imprison him. He couldn't let them… Not his former apprentice. His friend. His brother.

He swallowed hard, the combination of dust and fatigue made his throat burn. His voice was shaky as he continued, "Come back to Coruscant with me… Together, we will make sure that Padmé stays safe."

"How can you even ask that of me?" Anakin furrowed his brow as he laid motionless against the ground. He had lifted his head, but let it drop, feeling his defeat sink in. "I just tried to kill you."

He met his eyes, "You are my brother, Anakin; I will always forgive you."

Anakin felt the tears swell in his eyes. What had he done? His entire body was sore, and he had a slight burn on his upper arm from where the lightsaber had struck him. For the first time since he arrived on Mustafar, the ambiance of the Force shifted, unveiling a bright, pleasant sensation - he had not felt this way in quite some time.

Obi-Wan began to walk, but stopped for a moment as he held on to his side; the pain in his back wrapped around to his abdomen, causing him to wince with each step. When he approached Anakin, he extended his arm, inviting him to grab onto his hand. Regardless of his pain, he would help Anakin first.

Anakin stood in silence for a moment, unsure of what to say. He brushed the dust from his robes, watching it float into the darkness, "I don't deserve your forgiveness."

He gave an empty grin, "That may be, but it will only be for me to know."

"You're not going to tell the Council?"

"No," He shook his head, letting his eyes fall to the ground. His entire body ached, as did his heart, but he couldn't bring himself to fault Anakin. He should have been a better Master. He should have listened more. He should have… "I don't plan on telling them."

"But, what about Palpatine? He… He will be looking for me, and he will tell them the truth," Anakin let his head fall in shame. Palpatine had sent him to Mustafar to kill the Separatists on the planet, and he would be displeased to know how things had turned out. He was supposed to be his new apprentice, taking the place of the one he had lost to Obi-Wan before. What would Palpatine do if the Jedi weren't able to stop him?

Obi-Wan frowned. "When we get back to Coruscant, you will testify to the Council that Palpatine is the Sith Lord we have been looking for. You will tell them that he tried to sway you to the dark side, and that you were undergoing a secret operation to expose him. Anything he tries to say in his defense won't be believable."

"You would lie to the Council?" He asked, watching as Obi-Wan turned away. He hated that he had caused all of his trouble; Obi-Wan was one of the best Jedi he had ever known, and here he was, preparing to lie to the Council in Anakin's defense. Why? "Besides, I will be removed from the Council."

Obi-Wan shrugged, bringing his eyes to Anakin's for what would feel like the last time, "A sacrifice must be made for the sake of the galaxy."

And, he knew that Anakin would not be the only one making sacrifices. Obi-Wan had abandoned his morals in the face of emotion. He was not the Jedi he was supposed to be; he would never forgive himself for going against the Code.


Hello everyone! I'd like to begin by mentioning that this is my first fic in a very long time, so please humor me! I've been working on this story for a few weeks now, and I honestly didn't think I'd get far enough to publish it, but here we are! With that being said, I'm very excited about this one and have tons of ideas!

Before I truly begin with this story, I'd like to mention a few things that I didn't write into the prologue.

What you need to know is: Mace Windu didn't die (there never was an interaction between him, Palpatine, and Anakin because... well, in my version it just didn't happen). Also, Anakin never slaughtered the younglings, the Jedi Temple was destroyed, and the clones didn't turn on the Jedi. Finally, by the time that Obi-Wan got to Anakin on Mustafar, he wasn't actually Darth Vader (he was just, like, teetering on the edge of giving into the dark side, if that makes sense). Anyway, I know I should have included that stuff in this, but it was beginning to get way too long and just seemed like it didn't fit.

If you'd like to ask questions, find out more information about the upcoming original characters, plotlines, and more, feel free to check out the Tumblr that I made for this fic: starwarsthedarkcrusade (FF is weird and won't let me post a link, but search that and you'll find it!)

All in all, I hope that you guys enjoy this story. As I said, I have tons of ideas and an original character that I'm going to be introducing in the upcoming chapters. I hope you all enjoy, and please feel free to review! :-)