The Forgotten One

by Starwarshobbitfics

For the majority of the Galaxy, it is well known that the Skywalker twins, Luke and Leia, played a huge part in defeating the Empire and its leaders. There was another Force-Sensitive which also played a part in the fight against tyranny. Enter Mina Padmé Bonteri, the daughter of the Imperial Senator, Lux Bonteri, and the former Jedi Padawan, Ahsoka Tano. Cover Art by Darth Cody.

21. The Battle of Endor, Part Two

Imperial Base, Forest Moon of Endor

The battle near the base kept going, Stormtroopers tried all they could to get the edge over the Ewoks, but their small size made them exceedingly difficult targets. An AT-ST was pursuing a group of Ewoks, thankfully missing them with its blasters. Chewie, accompanied by a couple of Ewoks, swung to the top of the walker. One Ewok hung from one of the two windows, waving to the pilots and distracting them.

One of the pilots tried to take control of the odd situation. "Look ! Get him off of there !"

Once the other pilot climbed out, he was grabbed by Chewie and tossed down to the forest floor. In the meantime, the two Ewoks clubbed the remaining pilot unconscious. Curiosity getting the better of them, they flicked some switches until the AT-ST began marching again, nearly tossing Chewie off the top. He grumbled his complaints to the two before finally climbing down to take full control of the walker. They caught up to another AT-ST and proceeded to blast it before any Ewoks could be killed. Wandering Stormtroopers were also caught in the attack. All the other Ewoks cheered as the machine was suddenly on their side.

Back at the bunker, Han was working incessantly to open the door by hotwiring. Sparks flew and he felt hopeful.

"I think I got it. I got it !" To his disappointment, the second blast door closed behind him, negating all his efforts.

Leia was busy focusing on the Stormtroopers hiding in the bush. One of them managed to land a shot to her shoulder, causing her to yell out in pain.

C3PO turned to her. "Oh, Princess Leia, are you all right ?"

Han knelt next to her. "Let's see."

She refused his help. "It's not bad."

While they were distracted, a couple of Stormtroopers surprised them. "Freeze ! Don't move !"

Leia held a blaster behind her back, Han turned over to her. "I love you."

She knew she could catch them off guard, so she played the part with Han. "I know."

One of the Stormtroopers made the mistake of interrupting their "moment". "Hands up ! Stand up !"

Han quickly stepped out of the way, allowing Leia the chance to shoot down the two Stormtroopers. The attack was so sudden, neither could have seen it coming.

Han looked back at her in awe. The sound of an approaching AT-ST made him quickly stand up, holding his hands in the air. "Stay back."

To his surprise, Chewie popped out of the walker, growling at his long-time friend.

Han had never been so glad to see him. "Chewie ! Get down here ! She's wounded !"

Before Chewie could do anything else, a proverbial lightbulb appeared over Han's head. "No, wait ! I have an idea."

Emperor's Throne Room, Death Star

Darth Vader was still locked in combat against Luke and Mina. Usually, the two should have been able to get the upper hand, but Vader's connection to the Dark Side, amplified by his hate and anger, made him a near-invincible opponent. But Luke allowed the darkness to take him temporarily, allowing him to knock his father down the stairs.

Palpatine laughed, sensing the darkness taking over the boy. "Good. Use your aggressive feelings, boy ! Let the hate flow through you."

Mina quickly calmed her friend down. "Woah there, Luke ! Don't let negative emotions take control of you. Let go. Breathe. Relax. Let go of the negativity that's trying to take hold of you."

Luke knew she was right. He extinguished his lightsaber.

Vader stood back, ready to continue his duel. "Obi-Wan, Yoda and Ahsoka have taught you two well."

Luke backed away, pulling Mina by her shoulder. "We will not fight you, Father."

Vader walked up the stairs next to them. "You are both unwise to lower your defenses." Vader quickly struck at Luke. Luke had ignited his saber a moment before, parrying the blow. Mina and Luke then back-flipped to a catwalk above them, protecting them from Vader's wrath… for now.

Luke once again tried to reach out. "Your thoughts betray you, Father. I feel the good in you… the conflict."

Vader quickly denied his observations. "There is no conflict."

Mina wasn't buying it. "Yeah, right ! Keep trying to tell yourself that ! It's thanks to your "inner-conflict" that Mom is still alive. You couldn't even bring yourself to kill your old Padawan."

Luke kept with Mina's words of wisdom. "Mina is right ! You couldn't bring yourself to kill me before… and I don't believe you'll destroy us now."

Vader purged his memories of his past, he knew he had to act. "You both underestimate the Power of the Dark Side. If you will not fight, you will both meet your destiny !" Vader swung his saber in the air, cutting the support wires of the catwalk, sending Luke and Mina tumbling down. They quickly hid in the shadows.

Palpatine, pleased at how the conflict was going, rose from his chair and walked over to the edge of the stairs to get a better view. "Good. Good."

In Space

The colossal battle between the Imperial Fleet and the Rebel Fleet kept raging. Thanks to Wedge, Hera, Ahsoka and Lando's quick shooting skills, the majority of Rebel cruisers were spared from the blasts of the Tie-Fighters flying everywhere.

A group of Tie-Fighters was pursuing the Falcon. "Watch out ! Squad at .06 !"

"I'm on it, Gold Leader !" Red 2 quickly assumed attack position and blew off a couple of Tie-Fighters.

Wedge quickly congratulated his friend. "Good shot, Red 2 !"

While Hera took care of one of the remaining Tie-Fighters, Lux managed to get a lucky shot with his turret cannon. "I got another ! I got another ! Yeah !"

Ahsoka couldn't help but praise her husband. "Good shooting, Lux ! We may make a sharpshooter out of you yet !"

Ahsoka couldn't see, but Lux blushed intensely. "I aim to please, 'Soka !"

Like everyone, Lando couldn't wait forever to launch their attack. "Now, come on, Han, ol' buddy ! Don't let me down !"

Imperial Base, Forest Moon of Endor

An AT-ST approached the other end of the base and communicated their "victory". "It's over, Commander. The Rebels have been routed. They're fleeing into the woods. We need reinforcements to continue the pursuits."

The Commander, ecstatic about their apparent victory, gave his last orders. "Send 3 squads to help ! Open the back door !"

As the Imperials gathered at the back of the base, they quickly found themselves surrounded not only by the Rebels, but also the Ewoks. Now, there was no point in resisting to surrender.

Inside the base, they began to replace all their charges. Soon, the shield would finally be down. Han urged everyone to hurry placing the explosives. "Throw me another charge." He quickly placed in on the ceiling.

Emperor's Throne Room, Death Star

Under the demolished catwalk, Vader stalked the shadows for Luke and Mina, his lightsaber ready to strike. "You cannot hide forever, either of you."

Luke's voice echoed in the darkness. "We will not fight you."

Vader peered into Luke's thoughts, searching for a weakness. "Give yourselves to the Dark Side. It is the only way the two of you can save your friends. Yes, your feelings for them are strong. Especially for… Luke's sister ! So, Luke has a twin sister. Your feelings have now betrayed her too. Obi-Wan and Yoda were wise to hide her from me. Now, their failure is complete. If neither of you will turn to the Dark Side, then perhaps she will !"

At that moment, Luke snapped. "NEVER !" He quickly lunged out of the darkness and assaulted Vader with a barrage of blows, Mina quickly following him, ready to assist him.

Eventually, Vader is cornered and Luke is relentless in his attack, eventually cutting off his fighting hand. Luke held his lightsaber inches from Vader's neck, whom was now breathing harshly. Mina quickly tried to stop him. "Woah ! Woah ! WOAH ! CALM DOWN, LUKE ! If you keep that up, you'll kill him ! Don't become like him… or his Master. You're better than this."

Palpatine's laughter rang out in the room. "Good ! Your hate has made you powerful ! But… There are two of you… and only one I can choose as my next Apprentice… So who will it be ?" He turned to Mina at first. "You, young lady, you possess immense potential… far more than Skywalker ever could. Do you know why ?"

Mina crossed her arms over her chest, frowning at him. "What makes me more powerful than Luke ? Enlighten me."

Palpatine paced around her, making her squirm in nervousness. "It's in your blood. Because of a past event involving your mother, you possess a small fraction of the lifeblood she inherited from a Force Wielder. A God of the Force. The one that gave away the last of her life to revive your mother was the Avatar of the Light Side. With training, we can unlock the powers linked to the Darkness. What do you say ? Will you become my very first Sith Lady ?"

Mina quickly refused the offer. "Me ? A Sith Lady ?! Is this your idea of a bad joke ? Sure, I'll become a Sith Lady… in your wildest dreams, Palpy !"

Palpatine groaned. "I should have seen it coming. Well then, it's up to you, young Skywalker. Fulfill your destiny and take your Father's place at my side !"

Luke quickly looked at his robotic hand. If he continued to bathe in the Dark Side, he could eventually become as terrible as his father was. He tossed his lightsaber to the side. "Never ! Just like Mina, I'll never turn to the Dark Side. You've failed, your Highness. I am a Jedi, like my father before me."

Mina wrapped an arm around Luke. "And I am neither Jedi nor Sith. I'm neutral, I'm the "One in the Middle", as the Force Entity known as The Bendu, would say."

At that point, Palpatine knew he wasn't getting a new Apprentice anytime soon. "So be it, children." Rage slowly began to consume him.

Imperial Base, Forest Moon of Endor

Han quickly rallied the other Rebels as far from the base they possibly could. "MOVE ! MOVE !"

In a moment, the base exploded in a thousand pieces, finally removing the shield that protected the Death Star.

Rex breathed a sigh of relief. "We did our part. Let's hope Generals Syndulla and Calrissian do theirs."

In Space

In the cockpit of the Ghost, Chopper warbled a comment when his radar picked up a new signal. Hera was ready to avenge Kanan, Ezra, Sabine and Zeb. "The shield generator just got blasted away, everyone ! Let's move out !"

Ackbar gave the definitive orders. "The shield is down ! Commence the attack on the Death Star's main reactor ! Gray 4 and Green 7, escort Agent Fulcrum to the Death Star's main hangar immediately !"

Lando was ready to complete his part of the dangerous mission. "We're on our way ! Hera, lead on ! Red Group, Gold Group, all fighters follow the Ghost !" He turned to his equally excited Sullustan co-pilot. "Ha ha ha ! Told you they'd do it !" He then turned the comm channel over to Ahsoka. "Good luck out there, Tano ! You'll need it !"

In a matter of moments, the Y-Wing landed in an occupied hangar. Ahsoka quickly stepped out, figuring a way to sneak around towards Palpatine's Throne Room. She turned to Lux, whom peeked from his window. "Stay there for now. It's only a matter of time until chaos engulfs this station, When that happens, secure an Imperial shuttle and wait for us. We'll be coming as fast as we can !"

Lux waved to her. "Good luck, 'Soka… and be careful."

She quickly sneaked around the pilots and troops, quickly entering the elevator. She then used the Force to guess on which floor they all were. "Hold on, sweetie ! I'm coming !"

Palpatine's Throne Room

Palpatine slowly raised his hands, ready to blast Luke and Mina with Force Lighting. "Since neither of you will be turned, you will be-"

He was interrupted when the elevator door slid open, revealing a very irate Togruta. Ahsoka immediately ignited her white lightsabers. "Why don't stop all of this right here, hmm ?"

Palpatine couldn't help himself to laugh at her attempt to save the day. "What do you hope to accomplish here, Ahsoka Tano ? You do not possess the power to stop me ! You are far too late !" He looked down to Vader. "Now watch closely, Lord Vader, as I accomplish what you could not : Terminating Skywalker's Apprentice." He turned his attention back to Ahsoka. "Let me… welcome you… TO YOUR DOOM !" He proceeded to blast her with Force Lightning, but Ahsoka quickly raised her lightsabers, absorbing the blast.

He tried again and she blocked once more. "Is that all you can do ? I've heard that you defeated Masters Fisto, Kolar and Tiin before they even got a chance to take a stab at you ! Why don't you show me how good you are with your sabers, old man ?!"

Palpatine produced two lightsabers from his sleeves. "I had thought I could spare you the humiliation of combat, but if that is the only way to satisfy you… COME ON THEN !"

"MOM ! Let us help you !" Mina pleaded.

Ahsoka used a Force Push to shove them away. "No, this is my fight. Don't get involved… for your own good. Please."

Palpatine roared as he flew towards Ahsoka. The two traded blows relentlessly, while a weakened Vader looked from the distance. He turned over to Luke and Mina. "She can't hope to defeat him. She'll be killed as soon as she begins to tire."

Palpatine tried to break her concentration. "Yes ! I feel your hate ! Your anger ! Let them feed you… then you may have a chance to defeat me. Who knows, you may replace me once I die !"

Ahsoka held on, never losing her focus. "You're reading off the wrong emotions, sleemo ! It's neither hate, not anger that fuels me ! It's my unconditional love as a devoted mother to her child. My dedication to ensure that she gets to live a fruitful life. I will never let you take my daughter away and destroy her life like you did with Anakin's !"

Palpatine could sense that she was beginning to weaken. "Ah… of course. Compassion, the Jedi's true weakness." It was then that Ahsoka made the mistake of letting her guard down. Palpatine quickly proceeded to blast her with Force Lightning, sending her tumbling to where Vader stood. He turned to Luke and Mina, who stood in shock at how quickly Palpatine defeated Ahsoka. "And now… onto business."

Before Luke and Mina could ignite their lightsabers, they felt the powerful jolt of Force Lightning. Both were brought down to their knees. "Young fools… Only now… at the end… do you understand. Your feeble skills are no match for the Power of the Dark Side. You have paid the price for your lack of vision !"

Mina struggled to call out to Ahsoka. "Mom ! Help ! Please ! Get up ! You're strong ! Heeelp !"

Ahsoka slowly stood on her knees, watching as her daughter's life was slowly slipping away. "Too weak… Too weak… I… I can't even stand up…"

Vader, on his end, got up and walked over to his Master.

Even as Luke felt intense pain, he tried to call out to Anakin. "Father, please ! Help me !"

Palpatine gave an evil smile as he would soon taste victory. "And now, children, you will both die. Then the girl's mother will join you two into the Afterlife !"

At that point, turmoil formed into Vader's mind. He looked at his Master, at Luke and back at his Master. He suddenly felt his old Force Bond reopening for the first time since they've fought on Malachor. "Anakin… only you can stop this. Can you truly allow my daughter and your son to perish at his hands ? Please, Anakin. Come back to the Light. Do it for your son. Save him from that monster. Save us all… You're our only hope. Please, Anakin…"

Vader quickly picked up Palpatine with all his might and managed to toss him down a nearby power shaft. For his heroic deed, he paid the ultimate price. Palpatine's Force Lightning hit his helmet and suit, causing it to slowly fail. Once Palpatine hit the bottom of the shaft, a great explosion rumbled the Throne Room. Finally, despite everything that happened, Anakin Skywalker had fulfilled the Prophecy of The Chosen One and brought much-needed balance to the Force.

Luke, Mina and Ahsoka slowly crawled over to Vader, their shallow breaths almost mimicking his now rasping respirator. They would survive this. Not it was a matter of escaping the station alive. Ahsoka hoped that Lux didn't get caught while she tried to rescue Mina.

Yes ! Yes ! Yes ! I've been itching to write this segment for so long ! I truly hope that I did the scene justice. Surely none of you expected Ahsoka to beat Palpatine, right ? She's strong, but not that strong ;) But all's well that ends well. Over the next and final chapter, Lando, Wedge and Hera will succeed to destroy the Death Star. Before Anakin dies due to his injuries, Ahsoka will a have a few questions answered that will erase all the guilt she felt for leaving him. Look forward for a brand new story by the end of November. Feel free to leave a review.