Dark Disciple's Partner
After leaving Ahsoka and Ventress' guest room, Obi-Wan Went back to the hanger to make a call.
He appeared as a hologram in front of the rest of the council. "Master Kenobi, it is good to see you again." Greeted Master Plo Koon.
"You as well." Obi-Wan turned to the rest of the council. "Fellow master, I have made contact with Ventress and Ahsoka. The tension between the Jedi Order and Pantora has been solved and both Ventress and Ahsoka are agreed to aid in the mission against Dooku."
"That is good news." Replied Master Mundi. "The more help in the attack the better the chances it will succeed."
"Stay with them, Anakin will. Watch them you must." Yoda suddenly ordered.
Mace Windu was in agreement. "Yes. How are things on that front?"
Obi-Wan answered calmly "While Ahsoka seems a little upset with the council, it seems she is more of a mind to be left alone rather than seek vengeance. She is with Ventress for going after Dooku, but I can say she will not be returning to the order." Mace Windu nodded.
Master Plo Koon's eyes crinkled a little letting people know he was smiling. It was interrupted by Master Windu though. "Is she aware of what happened 3 months ago? I know we tried to keep it quiet, but bounty hunters are notorious for gaining information."
Obi-Wan shook his head "If she did, she gave no reason to let me know. I don't think she fully trusts me. Anakin would probably be able to find out. You don't think she had anything to do with it do you?" Only Plo Koon shook his head while the rest had grim looks. It was like last year all over again. They had already deemed her guilty.
With that the call ended. Obi-Wan rubbed the bridge of his nose in frustration. Why did he feel like he was being pulled in two different directions?
Across town Anakin and Ahsoka had left the café and were walking down the street. Anakin was rubbing the bridge of his nose also. "So tell me what happened at Malachor."
Ahsoka had already decided to tell him everything no matter what. She didn't want to hide who she was even if she lost the respect of her former master. She only worried he would do something stupid and blame Ventress.
"We spent a week in Shili planning the trip. I also spent time with my family catching up. Playing with my niece was especially fun." She giggled probably remembering something funny the little girl did. "Anyway we left after promising to visit and stay in touch. It took a few days and a couple of hyperspace jumps to get to Malachor as it was on the other side of the galaxy. When we arrived…"
9 months ago
Ansoka and Ventress walked through the wasteland that was Malachor. Everything looked black and burnt. Eventually they saw a building in the distance that looked untouched. The both walked toward it without saying a word. Neither noticed the battlefield they walked across to arrive there, nor the dozens of light-sabers they passed by. After arriving at the building it was Ventress who spoke up.
"This looks like a Sith temple. We should leave." She was wary with good reason as Sith temples were notoriously dangerous and she was getting a weird feeling being near the building.
"No it isn't." Ahsoka replied awed. "This is a temple from the Revanites. They were neither Sith nor Jedi. We should see what is in it!" With that she used the force to enter the temple. Her former master had talked about Revan a lot in the past and finding a Revanite temple would make him jealous.
Ventress followed still reluctant to enter the rather dark and ominous building. The walls were dark grey slate as are the floors. The two of them walked down the empty corridors. Neither knew where they were going but both of them could feel themselves being pulled in a particular direction. When they came to a dead end in the middle of a hallway they both instantly knew it was a door. The section of wall was a dozen feet high and fifteen feet long.
They both turned to each other and spoke at the same time. "Together." They used the Force to lift the door and it rose slowly. Once it reached the ceiling it halted and stayed in place. They entered the chamber and suddenly lights blinked on showering the room in light. The entire room was in an octagonal shape with a diameter of 40 feet. In the center was a large circular table the blinked on with light and in the center there appeared to be a hologram image of Revan. At least that was until it spoke.
"Greetings my successors!" The image spoke.
Ahsokas mouth hit the floor while Ventress was still able to keep her wit about her. "What do you mean by successors?"
"I mean that for you to find this room you would have to been pulled here. Only someone of like mind as me who could understand the truth about the force would be brought before me. Therefore you are my successors. And to that end welcome to the temple of knowledge. There is a temple of strength on the opposite side of the planet although it's really just a giant weapon." He explained in a flat tone.
"That sounds dangerous." She replied back just as dryly.
"Don't worry. If someone activates it will explode. I sort of left the self-destruct on." He chuckled.
"Right." She drew out the word like she really didn't believe him.
"Anyways you were brought here to learn the truth behind the force."
"About the dark side? Or the light? You had been known to use both." Ahsoka waking up from her shock decided to put her input in.
A deep sigh came from the hologram which is surprising since a hologram doesn't have any air. "No that is the point. And what I am here to teach you. The Jedi and the Sith are both wrong about the force. But they are also both right. There is only one force and it is controlled by emotions and using those emotions will help empower your abilities. The Jedi use kindness and compassion to try and protect and the Sith use hate and anger to destroy. These are just aspects of a single force that has a large spectrum and is not something that is split."
While Ahsoka was trying to process the words that seemed possible it was Ventress who asked a question that she had been wondering. "Why did you bring us specifically…. Besides the fact we are probably the only people that have been on the planet since it was destroyed."
"While that may be true, you would have only been brought to this room if you were worthy. In this room I am able to gather a lot of information from around the galaxy and I can see much from here. Asajj Ventress, you have seen the good and bad in both the Jedi and Sith and have chosen the path in the middle. You are a child of the grey." His gaze turned to Ahsoka. "You have been filled with the power of the brightest of the light and the darkest of the dark, yet have chosen to forsaken the later for the former." Ventress spun to look at Ahsoka with surprise on her face. She had no idea that Ahsoka had a brush with the dark side.
Ahsoka just sat there wide eyed. "Mortis." She whispered quietly.
"Correct. Now would you like to learn?"
They both looked to each other and nodded. Ahsoka was wary learning the dark side but if it really was just a part of the same force she wanted to know. She had been worried that after leaving the Order she would stop learning and improving. Ventress had felt she had only just been existing and had stagnated since Dooku's betrayal. And after what happened with Savage she never wanted to be that weak. Not only that, but both had started to realize they wanted the power to make sure they could protect the other. Ventress never wanted to see Ahsoka hurt like that again. It had unnerved her how much her reaction showed that the Togruta had grown on her. Ahsoka knew that even though she had taken the hit to save Ventress that if Savage kept going there was nothing she could have done to stop him.
"We will learn." Said Ahsoka.
"What is it? You still seem hesitant. If you have questions just ask." Revan pushed.
"I am just worried about the dark side. I have felt it and I know that it is dark and controlling. I don't want to lose control and hurt someone I care about." She said while glancing to her side. Something that Ventress caught and smiled.
"Tell me Ahsoka. Do you think Ventress is evil and out of control?" He asked.
"No." She said instantly shocking the Dathomirian.
"There is no problem using emotions to fight. It is all about what you are doing and your actions rather than where the power comes from. If you see someone being sold to slavery and you aren't angry, then you are a monster. If you see a woman being raped and you aren't angry, then you are a monster. There is nothing wrong using anger at something wrong happening to protect those victims. Force lightning can be used to stun someone about to steal, is that evil? What if you spare a criminal that has committed atrocities that can use money to escape justice? Would your conscience still be clear on that since you did the compassionate thing sparing a monster? I doubt Ventress would spare Savage after he hurt you. Would you blame her if she killed him?"
Ahsoka blushed a little at the thought of Ventress being angry on her behalf. "No. I guess not. I understand what you are saying, but I don't want to lose control."
"The only reason you were out of control on Mortis was because you were being controlled. This would be on your terms. It is all about balance. You need to understand your own feelings and how to channel them. This will allow you full access to the power within you. Light, dark, and everything in between. This is something you both have the opportunity to achieve."
Ahsoka smiled. This was her next step. "What do we need to do to achieve this balance?"
"Well, it is quite simple. You need to understand all of your emotions. Ahsoka needs to see and feel darker emotions while Ventress needs more positive emotions and to connect and trust someone." Ventress looked over to Ahsoka knowing that she felt comfortable with her. She knew there was a connection between them. One that made her listen to Ahsoka when she was on the run. A connection that made her become her partner.
She knew what had to be done to achieve this. "We need to go to Dathomir."
"Yes." Revan agreed. Happy that Ventress got the hint. He could see she was as protective and scared as he was. She needed someone at her side. Someone to trust for her not to just survive but to thrive.
Ahsoka knew that Dathomir was where Ventress was from. This was an important step and she would trust her partner and just nodded. She would find out why they needed to go there later.
"Now that the next step in your training has been decided, we need to take care of the problem which you came here to remedy. Light-sabers!"
Ahsoka and Ventress both had blank looks. They had completely forgotten that was why they had come here originally.
He continued talking "Now I have the perfect light-sabers for both of you." A drawer on the console popped open and Ventress walked forward. Inside were two light-sabers with identical curved hilts similar to her old blades. She picked them up and ignited them. "For the one that stands between the night and day, she will wield the twin light-sabers of Dawn and Dusk." Ventress had two light sabers of burnt orange.
Another drawer popped open with two more light-sabers with curved hilts. She picked them up and ignited them. "For the one who has the brightest light and the darkest dark, she will wield the twin blades of Day and Night?" Ahsoka looked surprised at the white blade in her left hand and a black one in her right.
She still looked apprehensively at the black blade. She was going to go against everything she had been taught. Then a hand was on top of the one holding the black light-saber and she saw a look of understanding in Ventress' eyes. "Trust me."
Ahsoka just nodded. She would be fine with Ventress.
"Good! Now my mission is complete. There is a library behind the door on the other side of the chamber. Take what you want." Then the hologram sparked and fizzled out. Its mission of helping Revan's successor was done and it would be left to them to continue on.
The two of them went into the library and it had a ton of information. They took a few things on theory of the force written by Revan and several volumes on light-saber forms. Especially dual wielding forms. Ventress wanted a new form Dooku didn't know so she could get an upper hand. Ahsoka needed a new form due to the fact her form was for a shoto and a normal length light-saber and now she has two normal length. They gathered everything and went back to the ship. They place everything there and went to the main lounge area of the ship and fell on the couch exhausted. A sharp hiss drew Ventress' attention. She saw Ahsoka with a look of pain sitting up. The wound on Ahsoka's back was yet to be fully healed.
"Let me take a look at that." Ahsoka nodded and turned her back to Ventress complying with the offer. Ventress brought her hands up and undid the bandages across Ahsoka's back to look at the wound. It was healing well and would be as good as new in a week or so. She ended up placing some cream on it to make sure it didn't get an infection and wrapped it up in some new bandages.
Ahsoka had gotten lost in the feel of Ventress' precise hands on her back she didn't even notice when Ventress was done.
"Will you tell me about Mortis?" It suddenly broke Ahsoka out of her glazed state.
Ahsoka slowly nodded. She knew she would have to. Then remembering what Revan had explained about the force about knowing her feelings and needing to not be afraid of them, she decided to take that leap of faith. With her back still to Ventress she leaned back until she hit Ventress' chest softly. She felt the other woman stiffen for moment, worrying her she had gone to far, before relaxing into the contact. Ahsoka turned to look at Ventress making eye contact. They both exchanged a meaningful glance and nod where no words needed to be said. Ahsoka turned her head back forward and made sure she was comfortable.
As she started to tell Ventress all about one of her scariest experiences in her life she felt Ventress wrap her arms around her stomach. Ahsoka smiled a little before telling her everything. She trusted Ventress. Maybe even more than she had trusted Anakin which was scary. She could feel a strong connection between the two. One that made her want to go with her when she was given the offer. Neither of them even had to bring up the fact that Ahsoka only agreed to stay until they got light-sabers again.
Ahsoka told Ventress about the force wielders, about what happened with the son and how she was controlled by him and forced to fight Anakin and Obi-Wan. She even told Ventress that she had died. Ventress' hold on her tightened a bit during that part. Then she explained how the daughter's life force brought her back and that this was what Revan had meant when he talked about her. When the story ended she turned to look at Ventress worried she saw pity, but all she found was determination.
Ventress knew she had to help her get over this. She had been controlled and used. But Ahsoka had the passion and protective nature to use the full spectrum of the force. And when she succeeded she would be brilliant. And Ventress would be there to see it.
She leaned down and kissed Ahsoka. It wasn't a kiss of lust but of understanding. They were partners and would stand by one another. They pulled back with small smiles. Ahsoka turned around and leaned back into Ventress.
"Was that your first kiss?" Came from an amused voice next to her ear.
"No. Did you think I was just some innocent girl you could prey on?" Ahsoka tried to sound offended but couldn't keep the contentment out of her voice.
"Oh? Is there a boyfriend or an ex I need to worry about?" Ventress said in a heavy voice into Ahsoka's ear sending a shiver down her spine.
"No. It was a short fling. We both knew it wouldn't last. He was handsome and nice. That is all."
"Wow. So you only had the one?"
Ahsoka was quiet for a second. "With the Jedi there wasn't much opportunity to sneak around but there was someone. Nothing happened, but I had hoped it would…. Until."
Ventress suddenly realized who she meant. "Barriss?"
Ahsoka just nodded. Tears started going down her face. "How could she do that to me? We were friends."
Ventress just held her. "I don't know."
"What about your past conquests?" Ahsoka asked while trying to wipe away the tears. She was desperately trying to get her mind off Barriss.
"Well there were a couple but it wasn't anything but a night of fun. When you travel with a droid army there really isn't anyone around to get close to.
They sat in companionable silence for a few hours before Ahsoka decided to get up. She turned around once standing. She held out her hand to Ventress. "Shall we leave now?"
Ventress nodded. "To Dathomir."
Present
Anakin was stunned by the story. Ahsoka getting together with Ventress. Meeting Revan and getting legendary texts and light-sabers from him. Ahsoka agreeing to learn the dark side. It was mind boggling.
"Did you learn the dark side?" He eventually asked.
Ahsoka looked around. The two of them were on the edge of town. She held out her hand and a burst of force lightning shot out of her hand and hit a rock about fifteen feet away.
She turned to see his reaction. He was surprised. But also what surprised him was that it didn't feel evil. She hadn't felt like she was channeling darkness.
"Please don't tell the Jedi council. I am sure they are worried about me being with Ventress. I don't want to know what they would do if they knew. Not even Obi-Wan." She was a little anxious. She had always trusted him and this could end up making a large enemy out of the Jedi.
"Of course Snips. You can trust me. By the way, you are going to have to demonstrate more of what you learned for me later." He had a predatory grin on. He wanted to see how much his padawan had grown and was looking forward to a good spar. "Now tell me about your little trip to Dathomir."
Ahsoka gave him one of her giant smiles he missed so much. As she launched into a story about Dathomir. She had made sure it was alright to tell Anakin about it. Ventress was such a softy she thought.
AN: I just want to say that this story is more supposed to be about the partnership of Ventress and Ahsoka and how it affects thee star wars universe rather than their actual relationship and romance. While there is a bit of romance in this it is more going to be a background thing going forward. Ahsoka and Ventress are more about actions than talking so there wont be declarations of love or any of that but more shows of trust. I always loved the history of Malachor and the idea of Revan so I gave it a bit of a cameo earlier than in the canon shows. Also for those that are surprised about Ahsoka taking only a little convincing about the force and learning the dark side she was a padawan of Anakin who always said it was OK to show feelings and he looked up to Revan so that played a pivotal role. Thank you for reading and leave a review if you like!