Title: Expiation
Author: Aelan Greenleaf
Rating: K+
Category: Angst (of course), and a little drama
Summary: RotS Mustafar fight scene AU; one-post; SPOILERS! Yet another redemption fic. :)
Characters: Darth Vader, Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
A/N: Short viggie. Okay, very short viggie.
Expiation: the act of atonement for a sin.
The fires of Mustafar burned orange as the Sith Lord battled the Jedi Master. Geysers of liquid magma erupted from their underground caverns, exploding violently with unbridled force and energy. The blue blades crossing were easily identifiable in the dark day of the volcano planet; their azure light contrasting the red and yellow hues of the landscape around them.
Darth Vader drew his lips back in a sneer as he thrust his blade down upon his opponent, the Jedi barely managing to raise his own weapon to block the attack. A swift kick from the dark lord was misplaced, and the master of light delivered a strike to the face. Both backed away, only for a moment, lightsabers raised, ready for the next move.
The bearded Jedi spoke. "Don't do this, Anakin. Don't give into your hate."
His eyes burned hotter than the world around him. "Don't lecture me, Obi-Wan." He plunged forward, delivering the first blow.
From the ashes within him, the dragon awoke.
These two men were closer than brothers; they were each one half of a single whole. Each strike was recognized, each parry was second nature, but onwards they pressed, the fate of the galaxy weighing on them.
Two yellow eyes stared into his soul, boring holes into his heart. The dragon of the dead star shook off the black dust of its tomb and became stronger, more powerful, than before. Wrapping its tail around every fear the Hero With No Fear had ever had, it squeezed with a vice-like grip.
The Sith Lord stumbled. A clumsy step, and his balance was thrown off. The Jedi took the advantage, and shifted from defense to offense. His blue sword with the silver handle shot forwards, as he flipped gracefully over the other's head. Barely blocking the attack, the former Jedi sunk low and swung his own lightsabre in a circle, almost catching his opponent's legs.
It was strange that the very thing that had destroyed the man called Anakin Skywalker would bring him back from the abyss. As the dark lord choked upon his own onus, the part of him that was still a Jedi slowly rose from his deep exile.
The Jedi Master leaped over the blade, dropped low and somersaulted forwards, in order to gain some distance from his former apprentice. His cerulean eyes met the cold, vile stare of his Padawan, and his heart shattered. Everything he ever was and would have been was in this boy. His breath caught in his throat, and he pushed all emotion away. This was not the Jedi way.
Darth Vader was too preoccupied with his own demons to notice as Anakin crawled back up from the depths that had been his mental prison. He didn't notice until it was too late that the Jedi had snapped the dragon's neck and was now standing before him, whispering of failure and defeat. The two men that were one both faced off, within and outside. Two battles raged on.
The obsidian shores that bordered the river of flames drew ever closer, as the two rivals fought their epic struggle. The shatterpoint drew near, hidden in the currents of the ever-changing Force. Finally, an indigo blade struck low and hard, mangling flesh and sending a piercing scream into the heavy air. Goliath fell towards the black sand below, as David looked on in agony.
Something exploded, and they fell. The other war was done, the dark side had lost. Now one man fought himself, as the volcanoes breathed fire around them.
The figure lay still on the beach, and Obi-Wan Kenobi couldn't stand it. Darth Vader's severed leg lay beside him, as he fell to his knees. He closed his eyes, and buried his face in his hands. Long moments passed. A quiet moan floated over the wind, a moan that sounded eerily like his own name. Opening crying eyes, he wiped the tears away to see the figure gazing up at him, pleading.
"Obi-Wan..." it croaked.
"...Anakin?" he asked, holding his breath, barely daring to believe.
"Please help me, Obi-Wan." The light shone through his voice, and the Jedi Master's heart stopped. Time slowed as he let go of everything, and rejoiced. He remembered to breathe.
Obi-Wan careened down the slope, skidding and sliding down to the side of his Padawan. He scooped up the semi-conscious man into his arms, his tears gently falling onto Anakin's blackened face.
"Master..." he moaned.
Warm fingers stroked his glistening brow. "You're going to be fine, my apprentice. Now, sleep."
Eyelids closed in soft slumber, and the Jedi hurriedly made his way up the bank of the fiery river, now responsible for two patients instead of just one. As another ship landed, he quickly took off, setting a course for the nearest medical planet. Obi-Wan lay Anakin down next to his wife, as both rested in dreamless sleep. The Jedi Master was filled with such joy and hope, and as he left the room to contact his friends, he shot one final look at his young apprentice. Everything had changed.
The dragon slept on.