Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars or any of their respective characters...if I did, do you think I would be sitting here writing this? Heck, I'd be in Maui sipping a margarita with some cabana boy and—never mind.
1: Changes
"Your new empire?" Obi-Wan asked with a let down fury in his cerulean eyes. He could not believe what he was hearing! What had gone so drastically wrong for the young boy he had trained for fourteen years to suddenly turn to the dark side?
"Anakin, do you love Padme?"
"Of course!" The young ex-Jedi barked at his former master. "Do you not realize, Kenobi? She is what this entire thing is about! I will not let her die or become tricked by your false preaching!"
The two men looked at the fallen woman on the ground, her eyelids shut but the expression remaining the same—heartbroken and betrayed. Vader went over to his wife and knelt down beside her, brushing a metallic hand across her cheek. Padme's flesh felt so cold now, not like it used to. It was moist with sweat and tears, yet Vader could not figure out why. He would give her everything; a seat of power, wealth and fame, the entire galaxy was theirs! But she had reacted in neither an appreciative nor excited way.
His master watched from behind, not knowing whether to just strike the Sith apprentice down with his light-saber now or to perhaps wait and see what would happen. When Darth Vader finally stood up, he questioned Kenobi.
"What kind of twisted Jedi magic could erase Padme's love for me in the split second that you did?" The inquiry was soft and hurt. There was not a doubt in Obi-Wan's mind that Anakin truly loved her... as much as he could love anyone right now. He also knew—or had a feeling—that Anakin might still be in that dark shell somewhere. Not gone as Yoda had said... simply lost and waiting.
"No magic, Anakin," Obi-Wan replied coolly. "And no trickery either except that which the Sith has used to corrupt you!"
The apprentice grew rigid, muscles tensing and glare growing even more terrible. How could this Jedi still insist on lying to him? And another thing: "My name is not Anakin," he said through gritted teeth. "That name is a symbol of the Jedi's control and lies. My name is Darth Vader."
Obi-Wan remained silent for a moment or two with nothing but the rushing flow of lava to disrupt the silence. Vader was beginning to take his weapon out when the Jedi asked him again whether he truly loved his wife. The apprentice responded that he had already answered that and his response had not changed.
"Then look at her, Anakin!" Kenobi cried, waving his hand in her direction. "And look at what you have done to her! You may accuse me of whatever you please but it was not I who almost choked her to death!"
No amount of self-deception could disagree with that. Vader did not quite activate his light-saber while he thought this through. Why had he choked her? Well, simple, he thought that she had betrayed him. Thought?... not very good reasoning, Anakin pointed through the veil that Vader had cast over their shared mind. The Sith apprentice tried to cast the Jedi back out of his thoughts, but Anakin continued. What proof had you that it was Obi-Wan who has deceived you and not the Chancellor? Or maybe they were both telling the truth...just a different truth. Is everything so black and white? No, thought Vader furiously. That was the reasoning of a Jedi! ...Then how come it made so much sense? Anakin took this unique opportune moment to escape from Darth Vader's crust and emerge into their reality.
"Master, if I come back to you, will you still kill me?"
Obi-Wan's eyes widened. He had a feeling he was making progress.
