Chapter 5

They called that battle "the beginning of the end." It was the end of the Jedi and the beginning of the Sith. That was when the Chosen One fell. Anakin Skywalker was no more; only DarthVader remained. It is said that after that fight, no more heroes were left. Master Yoda had failed and gone into exile. During Order 66 all Jedi had been killed, except Yoda and Kenobi.

Kenobi. That name would become the stuff of legends. They tell stories about that man, the one who trained the Chosen One, and the one who ultimately tried to save him from himself. They call it an honorable sacrifice, what he did. They think he perished in that battle. Even Master Yoda believed he was dead.

The truth? He retreated so far into himself that not even Vader could sense his presence. The force was no longer with him. No one knew what had become of him, that man shrouded in mystery. But Vader knows. He knows that his brother is still out there, waiting for him to turn back.

Vader. Now that's a different story altogether. Not many actually know his true identity. They knew he fought Kenobi and won, and that made him extremely powerful in their eyes. He rules the galaxy, the emperor's right hand man. No one really knows about the years of pain, confusion, and tragedy that ultimately led to the creation of Darth Vader.

He is known to be the only force user living, except for Palpatine. His red lightsaber is feared by all, as is his biting temper. No one knows that Anakin Skywalker is still fighting to emerge from behind those red-tinged eyes. No one except Kenobi, that is. He still believes that his brother's eyes are only irritated; an irritation purely caused by the ashy air of Mustafar.

Mustafar became an undeclared dead zone. Since that fateful day many years ago, no one has dared to set foot on that black, charred planet. No one but the man believed dead.

He visits the exact spot every year on the exact day the battle took place. He sits on the edge of the river of lava flowing over those smoky plains and stares at his left arm, reliving his last meeting with his brother. The arm is no longer human. It is gold durasteel, the same as his brother's. He relives the fight and stands up. He closes his eyes, lets the tears fall. He can no longer hold them in.

Then he allows his presence to shine fiercely in the force for one brief moment as he whispers four words to the darkness surrounding him…

I forgive you, brother.

Vader hears the whispered message as it reverberates throughout the force for one brief moment. The presence is there and then it's gone, not quite long enough for him to pinpoint the location, but long enough to tell him that someone out there hasn't given up hope.

He knows who that someone is.

Each year, on the day that his brother sends that message, Vader is Anakin for that brief moment in time. He's back on the plains of Mustafar, walking away from the only brother he's ever had. And as much as he tries, as much as he wants to, Anakin cannot bring himself to turn back around and say those two simple words that would make everything okay…

I'm sorry.

That's it for my little short story! Please review and I hope you enjoyed it!