Chapter Text
The lava boiled along the shores of Mustafar.
Obi-Wan stood with his lightsaber ignited, facing his former Padawan. Both were exhausted from the fight. When Obi-Wan leaped to claim the higher ground, he had hoped Anakin would surrender.
There was no sign of the Sith yielding, however; Kenobi could see the sheer determination in his eyes. Now, a river of lava separated them.
Obi-Wan had never imagined he would end up fighting Anakin to the death. If only he had known Anakin would become a Sith, he never would have allowed him to fall. He had raised him since he was barely ten years old. He wanted so badly not to hurt him, but that little boy simply wasn’t there anymore.
"It’s over, Anakin!" Obi-Wan said. "I have the high ground!"
"You underestimate my power!"
"Don't try it."
Obi-Wan already knew what he was planning. Anakin wanted to leap over him just as Obi-Wan had once done during his fight with Maul on Naboo. He knew the move; he knew Anakin didn't stand a chance.
It happened. Anakin tried to flip over him.
Obi-Wan reacted instantly, severing his former friend's remaining arm and both legs in a single strike. The limbs tumbled down toward the lava.
Deprived of his limbs, Anakin fell to the ground, striking his head in the process and losing consciousness.
The Jedi Master stared down at him with immense pain. Obi-Wan leaned over to check if he was still alive. He was—Anakin Skywalker, or perhaps Vader, was still among the living.
Waves of lava crested close to him. Obi-Wan watched for a moment longer, the agony clear in his eyes. Right now, he couldn't see the Sith Lord who had slaughtered children; he only saw an injured Anakin lying on the ground, whom he himself had been forced to mutilate.
Staring at the unconscious Sith, he was reminded of how the little boy, freshly freed from slavery, had fallen asleep on Qui-Gon's lap on the ship to Coruscant.
Obi-Wan was torn. He should leave him to burn alive, yet he couldn't bear to let anyone—especially someone he had called a brother—suffer like that.
Before his master died, Obi-Wan had promised to train Anakin and take care of him. Qui-Gon, however, hadn't foreseen that Anakin would turn into a Sith. Nor had he foreseen that the boy had ADHD—Qui-Gon had only noticed that he was the Chosen One. The former had caused Obi-Wan far more parenting troubles than the latter.
Obi-Wan could finish him off. He had to do it. It would be less painful for Anakin than burning in the lava. That was what the Code dictated, but... NO.
Obi-Wan wasn't capable of it. He couldn't kill Anakin.
Instead, he hoisted him onto his shoulders. He was heavy. Obi-Wan had no idea what to do with him... but he would figure something out later.
Obi-Wan carried him to the landing pad where Padmé's ship was waiting. The droids were waiting beneath it.
"Master Kenobi," C-3PO began. "I have placed Lady Padmé aboard the ship."
R2-D2 rolled up to the Jedi Master, emitting a worried beep. He was likely reacting to the fact that his master was missing his legs.
Obi-Wan didn't understand Binary, but he deduced that the droid was asking about Anakin.
"I see..." Obi-Wan said, abruptly heading onto the ship to escape the astromech's questions.
The protocol droid stood stunned as he watched them pass. "Why is Master Anakin missing his other arm and both lower extremities?"
"Siths..." Obi-Wan sighed heavily.
"But—"
"Don't ask unnecessary questions... please." Obi-Wan tried to avert his eyes.
He carried the unconscious Anakin inside, hoping he wouldn't wake up until an idea crossed his mind... which wasn't looking very likely.
He immediately contacted Bail Organa.
They managed to leave Mustafar. Kenobi was determined to fix Anakin. How he was going to explain this to Yoda and Organa was another story. At least things couldn't get any worse for him, right?