"Friends show their love in times of trouble, not in happiness."

—Euripides (as quoted on brainyquote·com)

Preface

I initially wrote this story in 2013 in response to Queen's (author #39336) collaborative collection of vignettes, Baby It's Cold Outside. For my response, I chose to feature Ahsoka in two different settings. I enjoyed writing both chapters that I decided to add a bonus vignette that might take place within my Ahsoka's Legacy alternate universe. I made some formatting changes in 2014. In 2015, I added an epigram, this preface, and reformatted the story to be more consistent with my current writing style. I also revised the bonus vignette to more accurately reflect the current status of my Ahsoka's Legacy series.

Although these vignettes have different settings, including an alternate universe one, the common theme is colleagues helping each other in a time of need. It might be a friend, a person of questionable loyalties (or a "frenemy" in today's slang), or even a family member. Nevertheless, one can tell a lot about a person's character based on his or her response in one's time of need. That idea led me to choose Euripides' quote as my epigram.

Acknowledgments

Very special thanks to the Walt Disney Company for all Star Wars character and concepts.

Special thanks to Queen, for her own story that motivated me to write my own version. I am also indebted to her for giving me permission to user her concept of the Ullambana festival. From her notes, it appears the Japanese festivals Obon and Setsubun along with other cultures' acknowledgments of the dead helped shape her concept. I hope that I've remained authentic to your own presentation, even when combining it with my own interpretations of Togruta culture and afterlife.

In the bonus vignette, the storyteller's legend was inspired, in part, by the episode Darmok from Star Trek: The Next Generation. It appears CBS Television Studios and Viacom both own parts of the Star Trek franchise. In addition, the song sung by the tribe, although intended to be a native Togruta song, was influenced by Journey's song, Colors of the Spirit. The song has a Native American flavor to it, and it seemed appropriate for a tribal Togruta celebration.

Ahsoka shook her head in disbelief. Once again, she unexpectedly encountered Lux during a mission. And once again, Lux's presence seemed to cause nothing but trouble for her.

She still recalled her first encounter with Lux on Raxus Prime. While she dismissed his wandering eyes as typical male behavior, the mission itself, to try to end the Clone Wars peacefully, resulted in his mother's death. She encountered him again not too long ago on Mandalore, and she saved him from a certain death. How did he thank her, though? He incapacitated both R2-D2 and her, and he hid her lightsabers as he flew them all to Carlac. His plot involving Death Watch endangered them yet again. To add insult to injury, Lux claimed to be her fiance and unexpectedly kissed her to keep their cover. It wasn't merely an innocent kiss; it was far more passionate than she expected or wanted.

During the briefing for her current mission, teaching guerrilla tactics and strategy to freedom fighters, she didn't expect to see Lux as part of the group determined to liberate Onderon from Separatist rule. While the mission was largely successful, Ahsoka dropped Steela to her unfortunate death after the former suffered a laser shot in her back. As she recalled the event, the tips her lekku involuntarily twitched in horror.

Lux and Steela... what did those two see in each other? she thought. The feeling of Lux's footsteps in her montrals derailed her train of thought, however.

Lux appeared oblivious to Ahsoka's inner turmoil and thoughts. He, too, did his best to cope with Steela's unexpected death.

"Where are you going?" he asked curiously.

"My job is done here, Lux. I have to go report to the Jedi Council and rejoin my master as soon as possible," Ahsoka replied softly.

"May I join you? King Dendup asked me to represent Onderon in the Galactic Senate. Surely, it won't be a problem if I travel to Coruscant with you?"

"Don't be so sure," Ahsoka replied through gritted teeth.

Lux was taken aback by the response. "Ahsoka, what's wrong?" he asked with genuine concern. When he tried to hold her hand, she promptly pulled it away, much to his dismay.

Ahsoka looked down at the bandages that protected her injured back and wrapped around her upper chest. She was eager to return the Jedi Temple and visit the Halls of Healing.

"Don't you get it? Each time we've been together, one of us gets hurt … usually me," Ahsoka finally answered.

"Surely you don't mean that?" Lux asked in reply, naive to the reality.

"Death Watch worked me over pretty bad on Carlac, no thanks to you. Had it not been for quick thinking and Artoo's resourcefulness, I might have died. And, your mother died when we first met on Raxus," Ahsoka reminded him.

"So for that, you hold a grudge? I thought Jedi were supposed to be better than that."

Ahsoka took a deep breath. Lux made a valid point.

"Fine. Still, that doesn't change the fact one of us gets hurt when we end up together. Neither of us deserve that," she conceded.

Once again, Lux tried to hold Ahsoka's hand. She slowly pulled it away and gave him another dirty look.

"Please? It is cold out tonight. Let me walk with you. I promise nothing will happen. It can be a challenge to myself," Lux pleaded.

Ahsoka didn't know how to react at first.

"OK, but no funny business!" she finally replied emphatically.

Lux gingerly took her hand. He was a bit nervous what she might do if he did otherwise. To his surprise, Ahsoka slowly entwined her long, thin, orange fingers around his own. Her right hand looked different without her gauntlet. However, she still wore her left gauntlet because it held her commlink. The pair continued to slowly walk out from the camp.

After walking for a few minutes, Ahsoka realized time was of the essence.

"We should go back. I have to report to the council and prepare for our transport back to Coruscant," she told Lux.

Lux, to her surprise, bent down and picked up a small stone.

"What are you doing?" Ahsoka asked.

"It's the same shape and color as the moon in front of us. Look," Lux told her.

On the way back, Lux noticed goosebumps forming on Ahsoka's shoulder. Thinking that this must be one of the drawbacks of her preferred Jedi apparel made him blush slightly. Thankfully, the darkness hid his reddened cheeks from her. Quickly clearing his head, he felt compelled to do something. He tried to move closer to her.

"I said, 'No funny business,' Lux," she reminded him.

"You look cold. At least let me do something for you," he answered.

Ahsoka watched Lux as he let go of her hand and removed his outer cloak. He carefully covered her back and shoulders with it, making sure to be careful with her rear lek. He then returned to her side and took her hand again.

"Better?" he asked simply.

"Yes, thanks," Ahsoka replied.

"So, what happens now?"

"I'm hoping my master and I return to the Jedi Temple. I can get better treatment for my injury there. After that, I imagine it's on to the next mission,"

"I'll be appealing for Onderon's membership in the senate. I will do what I can to work for peace … in my mother's honor."

"She would have wanted it that way."

"I finally realize that now," Lux stated.

As the pair returned to the makeshift camp, Lux looked at the stone he held. He then threw it into the moonlit darkness and whispered something.

"What was that?" Ahsoka asked. She couldn't hear what he said despite her enhanced Togruta senses.

"Nothing," Lux admitted sheepishly. "Let's get ready. I imagine your master will be picking you up as soon as possible?" he asked.

Ahsoka nodded.

Lux seemed unsure of what to say next. "Umm," he stammered, "thanks for letting me walk with you," he finally said.

Ahsoka realized Lux forgot something. She took his cloak off and handed it back to them.

"This belongs to you," she stated plainly.

"Thanks," Lux replied before surprising Ahsoka with a gentle hug.

Despite the surprise of his action, Ahsoka let him embrace her before they left to prepare for their return to Coruscant.

Chapter Commentary: The chapter title and contents were partly influenced by the song By My Side from the 1971 musical Godspell. It appears Arista/BMG records owns the copyright to the soundtrack.

I imagine I might have surprised some people by writing about Lux and Ahsoka together. Although I don't see them as a couple, I still think they would be good friends. I enjoyed having the chance to portray them as friends with no romantic overtones.

Regarding Lux's comment that Ahsoka didn't hear: I left it ambiguous on purpose so that readers can speculate as to what he might have said that he didn't want her hearing.