Title: The Mirror of Hatred
Author: It Is Your Destiny
Genre: AU
Characters: Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ahsoka Tano, Anakin Skywalker
Timeline: Revenge of the Sith – The Empire Strikes Back
Summary: Yoda believes that only Ahsoka can turn Anakin back to the light. Obi-Wan seeks her out upon Shili. Together, they follow Padme to a certain volcanic planet. What happens when Anakin is confronted by both his master and apprentice?
Author's Notes: Entries 1 & 2 have been revised. (1/17/16)
Disclaimer: Star Wars is not mine. I'm just playing with the sand.
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…
STAR WARS
The Mirror of Hatred
Part I: The Altercation
Entry 1 - Harsh Truth
Shili
Obi-Wan Kenobi and Ahsoka Tano walked briskly amidst a dimly lit corridor. Side by side, they had been navigating through the asylum tunnels for the last dozen standard minutes. Soon they would reach a hidden landing pad where Obi-Wan's slapdash ship was waiting. Then, the craft would whisk them away towards rampant uncertainty.
Their two pairs of eyes were as sullen as they had ever been, and their hooded cloaks did nothing to stop the waves of sorrow undulating between them. Obi-Wan risked a glance at the young girl only to find her pain penetrating his psyche. Her aching was rivaled solely by Obi-Wan's own inner turmoil.
The conversation that had transpired between the two of them was enough to push anyone over the edge. Both Ahsoka and Obi-Wan had shared disturbing information with one another. It wasn't long after Obi-Wan had arrived that the reunited duo learned harsh truths about Anakin.
Ahsoka had to admit that it was refreshing to see Master Kenobi again. If the circumstances had been different, then she might have even enjoyed his company. The reality surrounding Anakin's turn overshadowed everything. Still, there was a comfort that was palpable between Obi-Wan and Ahsoka; a contentment that was produced by simply being together again.
The dank corridor opened up into a larger tunnel illuminated by torchlight. Ahsoka couldn't bear to stay silent anymore. Even though it had been a year and a half since she'd seen Obi-Wan, the young girl still felt like she could tell the Jedi Master anything. "I'm glad you came for me, Master Kenobi." She looked towards him ever so slightly.
"As am I," Obi-Wan said. "We need you more than you know." The Jedi Master was amazed at how much the young girl had grown over the last eighteen months. She was almost at eye level with him.
"We?" Ahsoka inquired, without looking this time.
"Yes Ahsoka... Master Yoda and I knew that you'd be integral to this plan," Obi-Wan stated as a matter of fact. "We need you," he repeated. "Anakin needs you."
The gleam in Ahsoka's bright blue eyes continued to diminish as she thought about the plight of her master. The more she reflected upon Anakin, the worse it became. "Tell me, Master Kenobi, how are we going to find Anakin?"
"I have to be honest Ahsoka," Obi-Wan explained. "I don't know where he is, but I shall tell you what Master Yoda told me." He wanted to smile as he thought about Yoda's wisdom. However, he just couldn't muster up the strength. "Search your feelings."
"That's all he told you?" Ahsoka questioned.
"Yes," he said plainly. "And that I'd know how to find him." The Force had shown Obi-Wan the way. "As it turns out, Yoda was right. I've taken care of everything. We'll be led straight to him."
Then, Ahsoka had a revelation. "Padme." She knew the senator all too well at this point. "You're going to follow Padme."
Even though Ahsoka had told Obi-Wan that she knew of Anakin and Padme's forbidden relationship, the Jedi Master was still surprised at the young girl's resourcefulness. "Your insight serves you well." This would be a delicate situation for Ahsoka, so Obi-Wan continued to speak. "I must warn you Ahsoka. You cannot afford to let your personal feelings get in the way. It could endanger the mission." He paused. "We must persuade Anakin to return to the light."
Ahsoka knew that she couldn't hide much from Obi-Wan. However, she was still stunned that he knew about the feelings she had developed towards Anakin. "Don't worry, Master Kenobi. That was a long time ago." She exhaled. "And it was just a childish crush." She had to admit that back then, when she had first found out about Anakin and Padme, she felt jealousy, an emotion that a Jedi shouldn't know. "Besides, you know he's like a sibling to me."
"Ah yes." Obi-Wan stopped in his tracks for a moment. "He once said to me that I was the closest thing he ever had to a..."
Ahsoka cut him off. She knew what the Jedi Master was going through. "You don't have to say it. I understand Master Kenobi."
Obi-Wan's eyes began to water. "Let's continue Ahsoka. We're almost there."
Seeing Obi-Wan this way generated a pang of guilt within Ahsoka. She removed her hood and looked at the Jedi Master earnestly. "I'm so sorry Master Kenobi." Like Obi-Wan, she also could not avoid tearing up. "I'm so sorry that I left."
Obi-Wan slowly took off his hood as well, and placed a hand upon the young Togruta's shoulder. He gave the girl a warm look of understanding. "You have nothing to be sorry for, my child." The Jedi Master spoke with the utmost of sincerity. "Granted, I don't know the details of your disorder, but I'm glad you were able to come here for the help you needed."
Ahsoka stared at the rocky surface of the tunnel. "If only I had stayed," she said morosely. "I could have done something." Anger began to well up inside the girl. "I knew he was flirting with the dark side!" She looked up at Obi-Wan while regret consumed her soul.
Obi-Wan knew that they couldn't afford to stand around dwelling on the past. He nudged Ahsoka along as delicately as he had broached her mental instability. They began to walk again, a bit more rapidly. As they adorned their hoods once more, Obi-Wan spoke. "The council supported your decision to leave. Besides, they would have decreed that you were unfit for duty had you stayed."
"I know," Ahsoka conceded. Although Obi-Wan was doing his best to relieve the girl, her guilt continued to swell. "But I'm still a Jedi." She began to quietly sob. "I should have been betrayed by the clones like all of the others." The cruel reality of the situation had damaged her spirit beyond repair.
"No, Ahsoka." Obi-Wan stopped again, cupping the girl's chin with his hand. "It is the way of the Force." He was adamant about his proclamation. "You being sent back to Shili was meant to be." The Togruta girl nodded reluctantly. "When Master Yoda ordered me to face Anakin, I was simply going to stow away on Padme's ship. However, I soon realized that it was my destiny to seek you out first." They started walking again. "Only together can we turn Anakin back to the light."
The tunnel finally ended and the pair of Jedi set foot upon a durasteel landing pad. It was twilight on Shili and many stars were already visible above the savannahs. Both Jedi immediately took notice of the pleasant breeze.
"You really believe we can do it?" Ahsoka asked Obi-Wan as she gazed at the twinkling lights of Corvala, Shili's capital city.
They headed towards Obi-Wan's shoddy vessel and the Jedi Master answered. "Trust in the Force Ahsoka... my instincts tell me that you're the only one that can get through to Anakin."
The roar of a wild beast could be heard from the plains below the landing pad. Ignoring the common sound, Obi-Wan and Ahsoka arrived at their craft. The small commercial freighter was the best Obi-Wan could do to protect his identity as a Jedi. Ahsoka spoke as they climbed the boarding ramp. "Where are we going first, Master Kenobi?"
Obi-Wan had already planted a homing device on the hull of Padme's star skiff. The essential task was accomplished shortly before his trip to Shili. Due to Obi-Wan's impressive skills in reconnaissance, he knew precisely when the senator would leave the Galactic Core to find Anakin. "To Coruscant, Ahsoka," Obi-Wan responded with little emotion. "We have a ship to follow."
Ahsoka swallowed hard while she sat in the copilot's seat. Obi-Wan's response had surprised her. The plan was already in motion, and there was no turning back now. Obi-Wan fired up the realspace engines. They would face Anakin.
{Revised 1/17/16}
~to be continued