Hello everyone. Before I start on this chapter, I must explain something. I am delighted about all the suggestions and ideas that you have given me about this story, but they have left me with a dilemma. Quite a few of you have commented on Ahsoka's future and not everyone agrees. I will therefore continue on my original plan for this story as it leads to a sequel. Quite a few people agree with this approach anyway I think. However, because of the immense interest in this story I will also write an alternate ending for this story after this covering Ahsoka's other valid decision open to her so no one will be left disappointed. Anyway, on with the chapter; Ahsoka is allowed to leave the Halls of Healing, but where does she go? Also Obi-Wan, Anakin and Katooni are given a mission to deal with Count Dooku.

The Order Redeems: Chapter 12 – Ahsoka's Decision

It was two days after Barriss had been given her second chance. Ahsoka had just been given the news. She was delighted with the outcome; the Jedi Council really are trying to change. Ahsoka still felt slightly betrayed by them, but the pain was dissipating. Maybe she could visit Barriss on her public work sentence although no one knew what it would be yet.

She had also just been told that her physical condition had recovered to the point that she didn't need to stay permanently in the Halls of Healing. Back when she was a Jedi, Ahsoka would have been delighted with this; she always found it boring. Now however, Ahsoka had to admit, she was apprehensive; she had tried living on her own on Shili and that didn't exactly go well. Add the fact that her former master, Anakin Skywalker, and his wife Padmé and offered her a place at their apartment. After some thinking Ahsoka had agreed to this since she still needed to return for counselling sessions with Master Ticarti Mai.

Ahsoka smiled as she thought about Ticarti; she had to admit, the woman was good. Her advice had gotten Ahsoka's brain working somewhat properly again and had helped her make the decision to live with Padmé and Anakin. Ahsoka hoped however, that she wouldn't be in the way at Padmé's considering that Padmé was now the chancellor.

Ahsoka waited at the exit of the Halls of Healing; she had been told that Padmé would be picking her up very shortly. As she waited, she tried think about what she could do now; trying to hunt on Shili was obviously not viable, but neither could she come up with an alternative. Maybe she could learn politics from Padmé and be Shili's senator, but she quickly realised she had no understanding of politics at all and no amount of training from Padmé would change that; besides after what Palpatine turned out to be, she had had enough of politics. Maybe she could marry Lux; she loved him after all and she now knew that he loved her. She smiled at that thought but the thought of just being a house wife depressed her; she had always been a girl of action who had to help people. She shook her head almost in frustration. 'Maybe Anakin or Padmé can come up with some ideas for me" she mused 'something will come to me I'm sure.'

As she stood there trying to create a future direction for herself, she couldn't help but feel uneasy. Ahsoka could sense the Force swirl around her filling her with a feeling that something was wrong. Not wrong in the dangerous sense, but wrong in the incorrect sense. Ahsoka had no clue what the Force was trying to tell her, but she wished it wouldn't as it was extremely uncomfortable. It was with some relief that she saw Padmé and Anakin walking towards her with Katooni not far behind.

"Anakin, Chancellor Skywalker, Katooni. Great to see you all" Ahsoka's smile filled her face.

Padmé responded with a slight chuckle "Please Ahsoka, call me Padmé. You are coming to live with me after all. I'm not the chancellor at home you know. I don't really want to be the chancellor at all in fact." That was the truth; Padmé had been shocked to core when she was elected. She really didn't want the total power she had, but it was now her duty to accept so she did. Padmé however vowed to wave the emergency powers the first chance she got.

Padmé's statement didn't really surprise Ahsoka that much. Ever since Ahsoka had first met her, Padmé had always been modest and purely for the people rather than herself. "Ok, if you insist Padmé" Ahsoka stated as she chuckled.

"Come, let's take you home" Padmé said as she put arm round Ahsoka to guide her. Padmé then turned to her husband "I take it you've got to stay here Ani. I think Katooni is after more training." She flashed a wink at Katooni, who giggled.

"Yes, I'm afraid so Angel" Anakin wanted nothing more to than to go home with his wife and Ahsoka, but duty required him to be here for now "but I'll be back tonight and I'll come to the door with you."

"You better had be back tonight Ani" Padmé playfully snapped "there's no excuse now our marriage is open and allowed. I need you to do something for me" she added with an evil glint in her eye.

Ahsoka rolled her eyes; was she really going to have to overhear then making love? She wondered if they ever stopped. "That will be interesting" she added, then burst out with laughter.

Blushing, Padmé said "Well, I think we need to get moving."

Padmé, Anakin, Katooni and Ahsoka made their way out towards the temple's main entrance. Ahsoka couldn't help the emotions that swirled inside her; the last time she had walked out of these doors was on the fateful day when she left the order. It was hard enough to walk through them then; it was proving damn near impossible to do it this time.

To make matters harder, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Luminara Unduli had come to see her off. 'Why are they making this hard for me?' Ahsoka asked herself. She tried desperately to ignore their sincere goodbyes, but she couldn't. She began to tear up as she again sensed the unpleasant feelings in the Force; there was no doubt, something was wrong with this situation, but what?

Anakin and Katooni stopped as they passed through the door but Ahsoka and Padmé kept going. Padmé had a feeling how hard this was proving to be for Ahsoka; it was written on her face. Padmé therefore wasn't that surprised when Ahsoka suddenly exclaimed "Padmé, can you give me a few minutes? There's something wrong, wrong with my situation."

Stopping, Padmé replied "Of course Ahsoka, take your time." Padmé had a feeling what Ahsoka was thinking.

Ahsoka ran off; everyone watched in horror thinking she was going to disappear into the Coruscant crowd, but were relieved when she stopped just before the steps. Ahsoka sat on the floor and crossed her legs. Puzzled, Padmé turned around "Ani?"

Anakin and Obi-Wan walked up to Padmé. Puzzled himself, Anakin turned to Obi-Wan "Master..?"

"Before you ask Anakin, I don't know. I did sense she was disturbed, but no idea." Obi-Wan was puzzled himself. What was Ahsoka doing? It looked like she was meditating, but why?

Ahsoka opened herself to the Force; she had no idea why she felt so uneasy about the situation, she just knew it was wrong. She could get that bit from the Force anyway. She hoped that meditating would get some answers; why was the Force tormenting her now?

As she sat there, Ahsoka dived deeper into the Force; she quickly lost all feeling of the world around her as she concentrated more on the Force. All of a sudden, she could see a blinding whiteness; nothing but whiteness. Ahsoka thought that that was all there was for a while, before she noticed a figure appear in front of her. Ahsoka thought she would die when she realised who it was. Her future self had appeared to her again.

"You listened to me child" the adult Ahsoka stated.

"Yes I did, I left the order and my master" Ahsoka responded "Are you happy?"

The adult Ahsoka laughed; she pointed at her younger self "The main question is: Are you happy? For I am merely you. When I appeared on Mortis, I was just a possible future for you. This time I am you."

Ahsoka was stunned "Then how are we talking? You….er I must be dead."

"I am not dead child, therefore neither are you. We are communicating through the Force. I am meditating, just like you and soon I will have to return to my own time."

"Why are you appearing to me again?" Ahsoka asked; her mind freaking out over the fact she was talking to a future version of herself.

"You need guidance child. You have a very important decision that you need to make."

"I know" Ahsoka responded "Now I've left the Order, I don't know what to do. I just know something about me isn't right."

"The Force won't let me tell you what to do, but I can give you the following clues. One, be true to your heart in all ways. Two, the Jedi Order altering their code was the will of the Force and Three, the decision you will make leads to me." The Adult Ahsoka put her hands on her hips and stood there with a smirk on her face.

Ahsoka was puzzled, but studied her future self. The adult was wearing pretty much the same as Ahsoka herself was, but Ahsoka noticed that her future self was equipped with lightsabers again and also was wearing a wedding ring. 'A wedding ring?' Ahsoka asked herself.

The adult Ahsoka smiled when she realised her younger self had seen what she needed her to see "As I said, the Force prevents me from saying any more about your decision, but you make the right one, I know it. I must also explain one thing. The decision you made to initially leave the Order was the right one for that moment, but it's up to you whether that moment still stands."

Ahsoka frowned at her future self; what did all of this mean? "Is there anything else you can tell me at all?"

"I'm afraid not child, but I will tell this. If your decision is the right one, I will visit you again; I can tell you more then. Now, I'm sorry child, but I must return to my own time. I'm needed there." With that, the adult Ahsoka faded. Ahsoka could sense that she had returned to her own time.

Ahsoka gazed into the blinding light of the Force, wondering what to make of all of this. The three clues were strange, but since she needed to understand, she decided to run through them. From looking at her future self, it was obvious that she was married, but the wedding ring confused her. Togruta's don't really use wedding rings, that custom is more of a core worlds thing. Who would she likely marry? Lux probably, but why did she have the lightsabers?

It was the comment about the Jedi Order allowing attachments that really confused her. Ahsoka wasn't a Jedi so could marry Lux anyway. She agreed that it was a good decision of the council to allow marriage, but it didn't affect her. She also thought about the first clue about being true to her heart in all ways. She would be true to her heart if she married Lux, but why the 'in all ways' addition?

Ahsoka began to think about the situation around her since Anakin and Obi-Wan had found her as the adult Ahsoka's statement about the moment still standing really threw her. She began to realise how much had changed in the six days since she was found. The council showing her trust and dealing with Palpatine, Tarkin getting arrested, the Jedi Order allowing attachments and the redemption of Barriss. In addition the darkness in the Republic and in Anakin had gone. She had to admit that she was in a totally different situation and frame of mind than when she left five weeks ago. Could that be it?

Ahsoka quickly ran through the clues again. She suddenly realised what her future self had meant. In her heart, Ahsoka had only ever been one thing; she knew it. In addition she realised the only possible future that could now lead to her married and with lightsabers. Ahsoka was herself surprised by the decision she had come to, but she knew in her heart it was the right one. Both her decisions were the correct ones; they just highlight how much things have changed.

Padmé, Anakin, Obi-Wan, Katooni and Luminara watched with some puzzlement as Ahsoka finally stood up. She had been meditating for well over half an hour; whatever she had been asking the Force, it had taken its time. Ahsoka walked very slowly and uneasily back to the small crowd of spectators; she was surprised they were still there.

"Snips?" questioned Anakin. He was the most puzzled of all; Ahsoka was not really into meditating that much whilst she was his Padawan.

Recognising the hidden 'what was that all about?' question in his enquiry Ahsoka looked up at Anakin "Master, er…" she bit he lip; this was more awkward than she feared "….Can I see the council?"

All four Jedi were taken aback my Ahsoka's question. Anakin, looking at Obi-Wan, shakily responded "Sure Snips." Obi-Wan nodded.

They turned to lead Ahsoka back inside before Padmé stated "I'm coming too. I want to see this."

The walk to the council chamber was one of the longest in Ahsoka's life; she really didn't know what anyone would make of her new decision; what she feared the most was: Would it make her look stupid? As they approached the chamber Obi-Wan said "You lot wait here. I'll go and clear the air. If they agree to see Ahsoka, I'll call you in." After everyone nodded, Obi-Wan entered the chamber, the doors closing behind him.

It was about five minutes before Ahsoka was summoned inside. As she entered and the rest followed her, she sensed the sorrow in the council members; they really had learnt their lesson. However, she suspected they would still be sceptical about her decision.

"Wish to see us you do Ms Tano?" Master Yoda Asked.

"Yes Master" she replied. She then paused and gulped; she knew this would surprise them "Masters, as you know after I was acquitted of the charges against me, I refused to re-join the order and I left. I now know that this was the correct decision for the time." She paused again; she was enjoying the massive feeling of loss that spread around. Although rubbing their face in it wasn't very Jedi like, she wasn't a Jedi…yet. She then continued "However, since I have been brought back by Master Skywalker and Master Kenobi, I have witnessed the changes that have occurred in the order and the Republic. I also have to admit that my own mental condition has improved somewhat since I have returned. Although I still feel slightly betrayed, I must now say that I can finally forgive the council and the order, so I formally ask to be re-admitted into the Jedi Order."

There was a huge wave of surprise that swept the room. Anakin, Katooni, Luminara and Padmé all looked at the council, all of them with a 'don't you dare turn her down' look on their face. Obi-Wan quickly spoke up, fearing Anakin's wrath if he didn't "Masters, I am prepared to take her as a padwan and complete her training."

All the council members looked at each other and noted that Master Plo Koon had tears in his eyes. No words were spoken because no words needed to be spoken; all the council members, even Master Windu, had the same thought. Master Yoda finally stated "Necessary that will not be Master Kenobi." He stood up and hobbled towards Ahsoka, as the council members formed a circle around her "Kneel child."

Obi-Wan finally realised with some surprise what was about to happen and quickly took his place in the circle "Anakin" he snarled.

Anakin was too stunned to do anything; he just stood there staring. It was only his former master's prompt that caused him to take his place in the circle.

Ahsoka was overwhelmed; this can't be happening? Can it? She dropped to her knees, too stunned to really think.

As all the Jedi ignited their lightsabers, Yoda, noting that Ahsoka didn't have a braid on, brought his saber to her left shoulder then right, before stating "Ahsoka Tano. By the right of the Council, and will of the Force, Dub thee Knight of the Republic I do."

As the council members returned to their seats, Ahsoka, still shaking, stood up. She was swept immediately into an embrace by Anakin, with tears of pure joy in his eyes he said "Snips, you have made me extremely happy today. I love you Ahsoka, you are like a daughter to me. If you ever need help on a mission, call me."

"Thanks master" she replied smiling, still shocked to the core. Turning to the council she asked "Knight Masters?"

Master Yoda replied "Treated you shamefully we did. Wounded you deeply we have. Gone through much pain you have yet unbroken your spirit is; taught us all a lesson you have Knight Tano."

"Congratulations Little 'Soka, you have made me very happy" Master Plo just couldn't stop crying no matter how hard he tried. He had a massive smile behind his mask.

"Knight Tano" began Master Windu "I wish to deeply apologise to you over the trial on behalf of all the council. It takes a lot to make me admit mistakes, but I made a very big one with you. I'm sorry."

Ahsoka smiled; getting an apology off Windu was big, very big. "Thank you Master."

Master Yoda then spoke up "Knight Tano, need time to recover you do. Help you we will. Once fully recovered, accept your own missions and take your own apprentice you may. Lead you to knight quarters Padawan Katooni will."

"Yes Master" Ahsoka and Katooni replied.

Master Yoda smiled; he had one thing left to do before he discussed an important mission "Step forward you will Skywalker."

With wide eyes, Anakin stepped in front of the council "Yes Master?" he half questioned, half stated.

"Defeated your own darkness you have. Brought about a change in code you have and rose to the rank of knight your first apprentice has. Bestow the rank of Jedi Master on you this council does." Master Yoda then gestured to an empty seat "Offer you a place on the council we do. Need your insight on marriage this council does."

Anakin glared in shock at Master Yoda. He was shaking all over as he took his chair "Thank you master."

No matter how hard she tried, Padmé couldn't keep quiet "Oh Ani" she exclaimed as she clapped with glee. She looked at Ahsoka and at that moment she decided that the Republic will do something nice for Ahsoka. In fact, now her husband is on the Jedi High Council, she has a perfect idea. She will discuss this with Anakin.

Master Windu stood up "Everyone is now dismissed except for Master Skywalker. The council need to discuss a very important mission that could end the war."

Everyone bowed, Katooni then stated "Come Master Tano, I'll show you to your quarters."

Ahsoka, overwhelmed from being called 'master' said "Thanks Katooni."

As everyone left the room Anakin asked "What's the mission Masters?"

"We have been going through Sidious's belongings in his office" began Master Windu "We have found the location of Count Dooku's Palace. We also believe from what we have found that General Grievous is with him plotting an attack on Coruscant. We have the opportunity to surprise them and end this war in one hit."

"To Serenno Masters Kenobi, Windu and Skywalker will go" began Master Yoda "With you, Padawan Katooni will go to command the clones. Assembled a strike fleet we have. Leave tomorrow you will."

Nodding Anakin replied "Yes Master". Anakin was beside himself with happiness; his little Snips is fully back in the Order and he is on the council. Now he's on it, they will never make a bum decision again; he'll see to it. He can't believe that he is now a Jedi Master; all his dreams have come true. This was all because he renounced the darkness that was in him. Now to end the war, tomorrow is definitely going to be interesting.

There you have it. That's Chapter 12. I know there was at least one of you that thought that Ahsoka shouldn't re-join. As I said at the beginning, this was my original plan for the story but I will write an alternative ending in which she doesn't re-join or if someone wants to write it then that is also fine as long as you message me. I just want to say that in this story Ahsoka re-joins the order for many reasons which hopefully will become clear as this story goes on. Anyway, next Chapter, Count Dooku and General Grievous get a very big surprise and how does Katooni handle her first taste of combat? Oh I'm looking to update 'A Gift Lost' tomorrow as well.