Mercy

by Tuneless Bard

Spoiler Alert for Episode III. Obi-Wan looks back at the moment on Mustafar when Anakin burned. Only rated K because, with the exception of that screaming kid in my theater, how many six year olds saw and enjoyed Revenge of the Sith?

((A/N: Obi-Wan Kenobi is one of my favorite characters, and I think Ewan McGregor's performance is one of the strongest in the PT. This imagines Obi-Wan looking back on that moment on Mustafar when Anakin burns.))

Mercy

A Jedi shows compassion
Demonstrates restraint
Always offers mercy

A Jedi does his duty
Fulfills his obligation
Listens to his elders

A Jedi does his duty
Even the unthinkable
The killing of a friend

A Jedi shows compassion
To even the despicable
A slaughtering betrayer

You were the Chosen One!

How can the Chosen One sink so low?

How can the Chosen One so easily burn?

Duty
As he chocked on threats
Duty would have me finish it

Compassion
As he writhed and screamed
Mercy would have me end it

But my throat clenched in disgust
At the dark and burning thing
At my dying friend

I could not kill my brother
I could not spare my enemy
I turned and walked away

And how might history have changed
If I had kept my honor and my duty
If I had shown mercy?