This story starts on Mustafar right at the end of ROTS, and only uses backstory from the main movies, I.E. Prequel Trilogy, no TV shows or comics. That said, much love for the shows and the comics, but I want to rely only on the movies for simplicity and easy background. However, some ideas or themes from outside the movies might show up, but in their own way here. This is very much a WIP story and it's my first real entry into storytelling so bear with me for my noob-ness. Advice or critiques always welcome. Thanks for reading and enjoy!

Prologue

Gingerly, Obi-Wan bent over, picked up Padme's limp frame, and carried her towards the ship. Normally, Padme would have been easy to pick up, but right now Obi-Wan felt so weak she felt as heavy as a starship.

He felt drained. Numb. Empty. How had it come to this? It all changed so fast. Incredibly fast. Everything was so different now and nothing was the same.

Obi-Wan noticed he had an audience out of the corner of his eyes. He turned and motioned his head directionally towards the ship, seeing two droids.

"Threepio, Artoo, it's time to go."

C-3PO and R2-D2 stood at the edge of the platform, watching the lava flow below. For the first time since Obi-Wan had known him, C-3PO was silent. He turned, looked at Obi-Wan, then to the ship, and started walking. R2-D2 kept his photoreceptors aimed towards the hell below.

"Artoo." Obi-Wan repeated.

R2-D2 emitted a few sad, slow beeps, then turned and headed for the ship slowly, as if asking for permission to stay and keep watch. Obi-Wan did not grant it.

Obi-Wan stood in place, holding Padme, his eyes following the two droids until they disappeared into the ship. He then took a few steps towards the edge of the platform. He watched red hot lava break through one of the many weakened plasma-dams, speedily flowing towards the edge of a cliff, far off in the distance. He didn't want to feel through the Force what would happen when the lava reached the edge. As much as he could, Obi-Wan closed himself off from the Force, isolating himself from what he might otherwise feel. He didn't need to feel what was coming.

He'd felt enough death today.

Obi-Wan carried Padme onto the ship, and signaled to C-3PO it was time to go.

"You underestimate my power!" Anakin snarled, glaring at Obi-Wan. "I've become more powerful than you could ever imagine!"

Obi-Wan stood above Anakin, looking down on his former Padawan, knowing Anakin was now disadvantaged. Obi-Wan chose not to give into Anakin's taunting. Instead, he tried to prevent what he knew was inevitable. Anakin held his stance on the floating mining platform above the lava river, ready to spring.

"Don't do it, Anakin." Obi-Wan pleaded, raising his lightsaber in a defensive manner. "I don't want this."

Anakin smiled, evilly. Obi-Wan finally realized that Anakin - no, not Anakin, Vader - had lost his ability to reason, corrupted beyond any rational sanity by the Dark Side.

Vader force jumped, and twisted midair, his blade coming down in a slicing motion towards Obi-Wan's midsection. Obi-Wan anticipated Vader's choice of attack, side-stepping out of the way just as Vader's blade would have cut Obi-Wan in half, dodging the attack. Vader was thrown off by his failed attack, and as he was recovering, Obi-Wan used the Force to hurl a nearby chunk of scrap durasteel towards Vader's head.

THANG! The durasteel landed true, knocking Vader down with enough force that he slid across the ground as he landed. The hit wasn't fatal but it knocked Vader out cold. Blood started seeping from the wound the edge of the durasteel had left on the side of his face.

Obi-Wan slowly walked towards Vader, cautiously, not knowing if there would be a counterattack. Once he was close enough to realize Vader was out, Obi-Wan raised his blade, preparing to finish the job, but found himself to be unable to end Vader's life.

Or at least, unable to directly end it. Obi-Wan still had a job to do. He deactivated his blade, thinking of alternatives. Looking around, Obi-Wan spotted a large boulder a short distance away, and had an idea. Using the Force, he picked it up and moved it towards Vader. Once in position over Vader, Obi-Wan released the Force, letting the rock fall.

The rock landed directly on Vader's mechanical arm, crushing the arm and trapping him. Vader moaned in agony. Obi-Wan looked up the river towards what remained of the plasma-dams holding up the rest of the lava. The shields were down, as they were damaged in the fight, and it would only be a matter of time before the dams would give way, flooding the area with molten lava. It would finish what needed to be done, and Obi-Wan was nearly certain that Vader wouldn't recover fast enough from the head injury to free himself.

Noticing Vader's fallen blade, Obi-Wan walked towards it and bent over to pick it up. He then turned to face Vader one last time before he left.

Vader was waking up, his eyes dim and unfocused. His eyes slowly searched his surroundings, first struggling to see the giant rock pinning his arm down, then seeing Obi-Wan a short distance away, holding two lightsabers. Vader struggled to keep his eyes open.

"Arrgghhhh," Vader moaned weakly, "You...you..."

"You were the chosen one, Anakin! How could you do this?" Obi-Wan said, emotion unintentionally breaking through as tears welled in his eyes.

Vader could only groan in response, drifting in and out of consciousness.

"You were supposed to bring balance to the Force, not leave it in darkness!" Obi-Wan continued, nearly shouting, fighting back the tears. He took a breath, "You were my brother, Anakin. I loved you."

Obi-Wan then turned and walked away, Vader moaning incoherently behind him. He couldn't stand to stay any longer; the pain was too much. Soon, the lava would come, completing the mission Yoda had assigned him. He headed for the ship platform in the distance, where Padme lay. Obi-Wan hoped for the best with what hope he had left. Maybe some good could be recovered from this terrible day.

Obi-Wan met Bail Organa at the doors from the hangar of one of the many landing docks at Polis Massa. Behind Obi-Wan, Polis Massa medical droids escorted the hovering stretcher that held the still unconscious Padme. Both men stepped out of the way to allow the droids by.

Bail stared after the stretcher, until it left their view down the hallway. "Will she be alright, Master Kenobi?"

Obi-Wan sighed, "The droids say she appears healthy, and Anakin's attack wasn't fatal, but she isn't responding to us." He looked away, saddened. "I hope that now we are here, she can get the treatment that will help."

Bail's face distorted, becoming disgusted. "He attacked her?", he asked incredulously. "What happened?"

"I don't want to discuss it." Obi-Wan said curtly, "Padme's health is more important, now."

Bail didn't push the subject. Obi-Wan started walking down the hall, and Bail hesitated. Skywalker attacked his own wife? What in Coriella's nine hells is wrong with him? Bail thought. Only shortly ago he found out that Skywalker was married to Padme. That was unbelievable by itself, let alone this fresh news. He shook his head, then followed Obi-Wan down the hallway.

As Obi-Wan approached the medical bay, Bail in tow, they found Yoda sitting in a chair outside Padme's room. His eyes were closed and he looked deep in thought. As soon as the two stopped before the door, Yoda opened his eyes.

"Ah, Master Kenobi, arrived, you have. Succeeded where I have not, I hope." Yoda said.

Obi-Wan didn't have an immediate reply. Palpatine lives. Lovely. Obi-Wan thought. "More good news, then." he replied, bitterly, "And yes, I did."

If Yoda had been annoyed by the sarcasm, he ignored it. "Good. Sorry to hear, I am." Yoda then looked to Bail as well as Obi-Wan, "Much to discuss, we have, but more important matters are at hand."

Obi-Wan and Bail both nodded in agreement. All they could do was hope for the best. The three turned to watch the droids begin treating Padme through the glass.

The next few hours passed very quickly. Padme regained consciousness and went into labour shortly after. She carried twins. Luke, her son, and Leia, her daughter, were both born healthy and without issue. Thank the stars, Obi-Wan thought at the time. Padme had passed shortly after, professing to Obi-Wan her belief that Anakin was still a good person deep down. Obi-Wan didn't have the heart to tell her he died on Mustafar. The droids gave no medical reason for her death, citing a lack of will to live. Obi-Wan, Bail and Yoda were greatly saddened by the passing of such a wonderful person, but the three would have to mourn later. Now was time for action.

They decided it was best for Luke to go to Tatooine to be raised by Owen and Beru Lars, his only living relatives, far away from the Empire's watchful eye.

Leia, on the other hand, would be raised by Bail and his wife, Brehna. It was known in their social circles that they were looking to adopt a little girl, so it wouldn't be a surprise to anyone that they had finally done so.

Yoda had chosen to go into exile on the remote swamp planet of Dagobah, to wait for a time where he might be of service to the Force again. Obi-Wan argued that this was excessive and unnecessary, as it would effectively cut Yoda off from the rest of the Galaxy and any prospective fights against the new regime. Yoda rebutted against Obi-Wan, leaving Obi-Wan feeling as if Yoda was punishing himself as well.

As for Obi-Wan, Yoda gave him one final task: to watch over Luke on Tatooine, to make sure no harm comes to the boy, and to offer guidance if needed.

Obi-Wan had almost felt the need to object to this, feeling able to do more, but relented. After thinking about it, he agreed it was best; the Jedi were eradicated and hunted, the Republic corrupted, and the war over. There was nothing left to do where he could make a difference; making sure no harm came to Luke was, in a bittersweet way, the most useful he could be in these times.

Before departing, Yoda informed Obi-Wan that Qui-Gon had spoken to him, as Qui-Gon had learnt of a way to live through the Force, able to commune with those still living. Yoda told Obi-Wan to expect a visit soon. Obi-Wan found a small amount of solace in this knowledge, as he dearly missed Qui-Gon, and talking to his old friend and Master would be a small silver lining in Obi-Wan's world of hurt.