At first, Anakin didn't know what had happened. The only thing he was aware of was that the fight was more intense than usual. All he thought was that Ahsoka was fighting with the desire to finally beat him.
Then the Chosen One realized that something was different.
He was losing the fight.
Thinking that all his teaching had paid off, Anakin started to smile. Then he saw her eyes, and realized he was living every Master's nightmare.
Ahsoka's teal eyes had always been her most stunning feature. As a Togruta, most of her features were attractive, but quite average. However, her irises, which some said were the color of Alderaan's largest ocean, had always given her the looks of a model.
But they weren't blue.
No, they were as golden as the fur of the lions of the planet Terra-Leo, shining suns that surrounded pupils as black as obsidian.
His own Padawan bore the mark of the Sith.
Verum knew that he was aware of the change. She smiled slightly. Good. If he actually challenges me, than it shall be useful practice. The Sith Apprentice once known as Ahsoka stepped up the fighting, calling on all the buried anger she had: A memory of Council Meetings, watching as Anakin bowed, watching him take credit for her ideas; always watching him break the rules, while she had to follow them; all those nights she had known he had snuck out, and all to meet some senator, he could fall in love-
No. Do not go there.
Facing your demons is never easy, but if it brings anger-
Verum felt her anger double as she just pictured his face. Perhaps a face she had seen a hundred times, but still, this one was different in a way. This time, the face held… love. Love for her.
Just to increase her anger, she thought his name: Cretum. Clone Commander Cretum. Just to focus her fury, she pictured the last time she had ever seen him. One minute feeling his lips against hers, the next her master pulling them apart; a flurry of astonished and angry words flying off his lips, being led away by Anakin, his last words "I'm sorry Ahsoka; it would have never worked; we're two different species-"
Her hatred swelled to a size she thought impossible. She snarled. The sound that broke from her mouth was one that you rarely heard from a sentient being.
Verum could tell that it surprised Anakin, but not long enough to provide an opening for her.
The fight was nothing like their typical spars. Her Master seemed to know that he was fighting for his life, and was trying to confuse her with different moves. She was being led by the true side of the Force, and hence was fighting in an entirely new way.
Slash. Slash. Thrust, parry. She flipped over him, and tried to stab him in the back, but he swung his saber against hers with such power that her landing was slightly off course. Knowing that he had gained some ground with that, Anakin continued to use his size and strength against his former Padawan.
The Sith could tell that he didn't want to do that. Her beliefs were confirmed as he said "Ahsoka- Padawan-"
He did not get further than that. She hissed out, "I am not your Padawan or Ahsoka! I am Darth Verum!" Somehow, they heard each other clearly even over the sound of their sabers.
Verum used his sudden shock against him. He was only frozen for a single second, but in that time her emerald blade was hurtling towards his chest.
He reacted on instinct.
And so one moment she was a second away from winning the fight, the next her body was on the ground convulsing. She stared at her Master, whose eyes were, like hers, wide with shock.
And then, for the final time, they closed.
A/n: Credit for the second to last paragraph goes to my sister, TheMadPsychologist. Happy now?! And I might post an alternate ending to this, and a story about Ahsoka and Cretum. If you'd like to see that, please mention that in your review. Thanks! :)