A/N: This is the official multi-chapter sequel to another one of my fics, Drifting Starlight. If you haven't read it, please go read that before reading this story! Trust me, you don't want to get spoiled for what happens in Drifting Starlight by reading this.
I'm super excited to be starting this, and I really hope you enjoy this story!
Returning home after so long felt like a cooling balm on her fractured nerves. Asajj Ventress lived and breathed the air of Dathomir, but she only realized it upon returning to her home planet after the end of the war and the Sith Master's death.
The Jedi were broken by Order 66, but they remained strong and alive. Kenobi and Tano had both promised her change within the Order, but she knew that the change would take time. Regardless, she knew she wouldn't return to the Jedi or to the Sith. She was…something else now, and she accepted that.
Mother Talzin welcomed her back with open arms, and the sheer sight of it was enough to bring tears to her eyes. She had not returned to Dathomir since she was a child, since before she was taken by Hal'Sted to Rattatak.
Since her arrival, Ventress readjusted to life on Dathomir. The Dark Side of the Force felt clear and alive, and the feeling of it was unlike anything she ever experienced before. She never felt such happiness before, such clarity. Everything felt so right.
There was a part of her, small as it was, that doubted everything. It doubted that this peace was going to last. It doubted her place in Dathomir's society. The cynic inside of her questioned why all the Nightsisters allowed her to return, without really knowing or understanding what she has become.
Mother Talzin was awfully forgiving of Ventress' own transgressions and was willing to help her right her wrongs. Ventress was still waiting for the catch, for something to go completely wrong.
About six months after she returned to Dathomir, Ventress walked out of her dwelling in pursuit of Mother Talzin. Something in the Force was stirring. It was faint, but it was enough to make her feel uncomfortable and slightly twitchy. After tossing and turning for most of the night, Ventress decided to seek out Mother Talzin for some answers.
The Mother's door was closed, which was extremely unusual. Even more surprising was the two distinct male voices that she could hear filtering through the door, along with Mother Talzin's. Both males sounded like Nightbrothers, though she did not know exactly who they were. She immediately cloaked herself within the depths of the Force and continued to listen.
Perhaps this was her answer.
"It's like—" Ahsoka cut herself off, struggling to come up with the words to describe what she has realized about Anakin and Obi-Wan.
"It's like they act friendly to each other," she began, and then leaned back in the chair. "And it sometimes feels like how it did before. Maybe they do it because they're both used to it, and it's just the easier thing to do?"
"Do you sense any animosity between them?" Nira asked, long fingers steepled together. "Or did Master Kenobi say anything that might imply anything?"
Ahsoka shook her head. "It just…it's not the same as it was before," she answered. "It's not really wrong, but it just feels strange, I guess."
The Rodian mind healer nodded. "What Skywalker did was very wrong, though. You said that yourself, multiple times," she replied.
"I know I did," Ahsoka sighed. "I just sometimes wish things were the way they were before." She looked down at her lap, tense but focused.
"That makes sense," Nira said. "It's natural, Ahsoka, for you to wish for these things. A lot has changed for you, and you wish for the stability that was there in the past. But you are doing the right thing by acknowledging these feelings and trying to work through them, instead of stuffing them somewhere far away in your mind."
"Can I ask—Master Kenobi hasn't talked about…you know?" Ahsoka asked.
Nira's gaze lowered a little before she looked at Ahsoka again. "Master Che insists on forcing him to come to our appointments, but I'd rather he come of his own volition. Otherwise it would not be helpful for him," she explained. "He only came once, before you both left for Ilum."
Ahsoka resisted the urge to sigh and instead leaned back in her chair again. So Obi-Wan was skipping mind healer appointments. Again. Why should she even expect otherwise?
It was beginning to bother her that he hadn't spoken to anyone about what happened in Palpatine's office or about Anakin, even. Whenever she brought it up with him, he would either quickly change the topic or just not say anything at all. She asked Master Qui-Gon a few times, but he was having the same amount of success that she was.
"I see," Ahsoka answered. "I'll try to ask him to schedule an appointment."
"You don't need to do that, Padawan," Nira said with a faint smile. "Give him time. Time heals all wounds, even those as deep as Master Kenobi's."
Ahsoka stood. "Thank you, Nira," she said. "May the Force be with you."
The healer nodded. "And you, Ahsoka."
Within the depths of the Force, Qui-Gon Jinn meditated. Time passed much differently here than it did in corporeality, but the environment of the Force was heavily influenced by the universe itself.
Qui-Gon spent a lot of time by himself, watching over Obi-Wan and Anakin and Ahsoka, and the galaxy as a whole. Manifesting himself as a ghost to visit them took a lot more effort than he wished, but he found it easier to speak to anyone who was willing to listen. Just being able to help them overcome their struggles is a blessing in itself.
He took a deep breath, preparing himself to float in the Force for some time. Before he could do just that, there were footsteps behind him. Qui-Gon uncrossed his legs and pulled himself to his feet before turning around.
"Everything will change," the Son said, without greeting, without explanation.
"Change how?" Qui-Gon asked, feeling a sort of nervousness stirring within him.
The Son paused and then smirked at him. "My father and sister may deem this as balance," he continued, motioning around them, "but this is not true balance. True balance must have equal parts Light and Dark," the Son said.
The three Force beings—The Father, Son, and Daughter—all had a habit of not directly answering questions whenever Qui-Gon would ask them. He hoped that by now he would be able to communicate with them more easily, but it felt as though these beings didn't care much for answering his questions. They were more focused on the Force itself.
"What is happening?" Qui-Gon asked.
"Let's just say that the darkness must rise again," the Son answered. Before Qui-Gon could say anything else, the Son transformed into some sort of a winged beast and flew off into the distance.
A/N: I'm going to try to stick to a biweekly updating schedule, so Chapter 1 will be up (hopefully) on July 13th!
Please let me know what you think! Thank you :)