"It's over, Anakin. I have the high ground!" Obi-Wan shouts over the roar of lava and bustling droids. 

"You underestimate my power!" Anakin growls back, tightening his grip on his lightsaber. He narrows his eyebrows, his anger coursing through his veins. He is not going to back down now. This battle has gone on long enough and it's time to put an end to it.

He will come out victorious.

Obi-Wan gives his head a slight shake, knowing what his padawan is planning on attempting. "Don't try it."

Anakin takes a deep breath from the bottom of his lungs. He bends his knees then shoots himself through the air. He lets out a battle cry, launching himself over Obi-Wan and effortlessly landing behind him, his lightsaber aimed high.

Before Obi-Wan has time to react, Anakin takes the lightsaber and jabs it through his stomach. Obi-Wan lets out a groan, pain flashing over his face. His mouth is slightly open, his eyes wide in shock. He has been beaten. His padawan has delivered the final blow, ending his life.

Anakin freezes, Obi-Wan's face shaking him to his core. He quickly turns off his lightsaber with a barely audible swish. His heart is pounding in his ears, his hands are trembling with adrenaline, shock, and fear. 

Obi-Wan falls to his knees, his hands covering his deep, deadly burn. Anakin grabs onto him tightly, stopping him from falling face-first onto the hard ground. "Master." He pants, his mind swirling with conflicting emotions.

The only thing he truly knows is that this is wrong. What he has done is the worst thing a padawan could do to his master. It has broken the trust that the two of them have built over the past decade. 

He quickly sits on the ground, holding Obi-Wan's head in his lap. Obi-Wan struggles to speak, barely clinging to his life. His hand intertwines into Anakin's robes, pulling him close to him. "You were the chosen one." He croaks, blinking back what Anakin thinks are tears of pain. "It was said that you would destroy the Sith, not join them. Bring balance to the Force, not leave it in darkness."

Anakin's bottom lip trembles, his eyes pooling with tears. 

"You were my brother, Anakin." Obi-Wan hoarsely continues, betrayal and sadness painted so vividly on his dying face. Anakin holds back a cry, watching him die in his arms. Obi-Wan frowns, his blue eyes locking with Anakin's one final time. "I loved you." He whispers.

"I loved you too," Anakin replies, his free hand tightly holding onto Obi-Wan's hair in an attempt to keep him here with him. Obi-Wan's body slowly grows limp, his grip loosening, and his head lolling to rest into Anakin's chest. All of the life in his eyes has disappeared. Anakin forcefully swallows down his pain. "Please, don't go. Please." He begs but it's evident that Obi-Wan has become one with the Force.

He tries to hold back his cries, but it feels impossible. His chest tightens with his heart shattering. He lowers himself, pressing his forehead against Obi-Wan's, wishing for him to say or do something. He knows it's never going to happen, but he wants to hear his gentle voice again, even if it is a scolding or lecture.

"I'm sorry." He cracks as the first tears finally escape him. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Master." He continues, his body racking with sobs. "I take it back, Obi-Wan. I want you back."

When he finally pulls away, he's left staring into his master's lifeless eyes. Anakin gently cresses his cheek with his thumb, wiping away his tears from his best friend's face. He is ashamed of what he has done and become. Obi-Wan is a casualty that could have been avoided.

Suddenly, Anakin feels that familiar tug inside of him. He's been in this very position before. His mother was a casualty that didn't need to happen. Yet there she died in his arms because he wasn't there to save her. Everyone he's ever truly loved has died because of him.

At least Padmé is still alive. He can sense her through the Force. It is weak, but if he hurries, he can still save her.

Anakin rises to his feet, gently laying Obi-Wan on the ground where he fell. He closes his master's eyes, not wanting to look at him anymore. The image of him in his arms is haunting enough. He turns to walk away but something inside stops him. He looks over his shoulder, his emotions taking control of him.

Obi-Wan deserves the proper burial.

He deserves a Jedi burial after all that he has done for the Order. He had to bury Qui-Gon on Naboo and vowed to take Anakin as his padawan with or without the Council's approval. He was an exceptional teacher for being so young and for training Anakin at an old age. He was a great general and wise Council Member. He gave his life to the Order, becoming the perfect Jedi. He fought for it till his dying breath.

So Anakin lifts Obi-Wan using the Force and puts him to rest in the flowing river of lava. This is not what he would like to do, but he doesn't have much of a choice. This is the closest he can get to truly giving Obi-Wan the funeral he deserves.

Anakin doesn't remember much of what is done or said at Jedi funerals, but he does his best attempt. "Obi-Wan, I'm sorry for all of the trouble I've caused you over the years. And I'm sorry that I had to be the one to end your life. I feel sick and horrible at what I've done."

Anakin chokes on his words, trying to keep it together. "But the Jedi are wrong. They're evil and corrupt. Not you, of course, but unfortunately you had to take the fall with them." He says. Something snaps inside of him as he thinks of their battle and the events that led to it. The reality that who he is working with now is not much different besides the color of lightsabers they use. "But the Sith are no better. If it wasn't for Palpatine, then you wouldn't be dead. Both the Jedi and the Sith are bad people. I'm going to put an end to both of them."

He blinks back tears, thinking of his master again. The kindness he showed him and how much he truly believed in him, even when other's didn't. "I will be the chosen one you've died for. I will bring balance to the Force by destroying both the light and the dark." He vows, tightening his fists at his side.

"For you."

He grabs his lightsaber from the ground and turns around. He marches back to Padmé's ship, wiping away the remaining tears on his cheeks. Though Obi-Wan is now gone because of him, Anakin can still save the last person he loves. He will do everything in his power to stop her from dying. C-3PO exits the ship, rushing down the ramp. "Master Ani, we have Miss Padmé on board. Please hurry."

"Is she alright?"

"Yes, but she needs immediate medical attention. I suggest we leave and contact Bail Organa." C-3PO says, but it's clear that Anakin isn't listening fully. He starts to prepare the ship for takeoff as Anakin goes to Padmé's side. C-3PO glances around, noticing the missing passenger. "Where is Master Kenobi?"

Anakin bows his head, holding Padmé's hand. "He's not coming, 3PO. Please, fly us off this planet. I don't want to be here any longer."

Without another word, the gold plated droid leaves Anakin and Padmé alone. She stirs and a smile comes to her face. "Ani? Is that you?" She asks, her free hand reaching out to touch his hair.

"It's me, Padmé."

"Are we running away to be together in peace at least?" She asks. Her melodic voice reminds him of jingling bells. Even after all he has done and been through these past few days, somehow she can still bring a smile to his face.

"Yes. We're running away and we're going to raise our baby somewhere no one can ever find us." He promises, kissing her forehead. She softly giggles before falling back to sleep. Anakin is going to make sure that Padmé and their child is safe. He will do everything in his power to ensure that no one will ever hurt them. 

When the time is right, he will go and overthrow Palpatine and bring balance to the Force, like he's been foretold to do. 

For the lost clones.

For the lost innocent Jedi.

For his mother.

For Qui-Gon.

And for Obi-Wan, his master, best friend, and most importantly:

His brother.

~~~~~~~~~~