The ravaging in the sky stopped, and the earthquakes began to settle down. All the carnage ended. Ahsoka, who had fallen to the floor, managed to stand up holding onto something, looking around to see her master and his wife, whom were holding onto each other.
They both looked up, breathing heavily. "What was that? An earthquake?" Anakin questioned.
The Togruta girl didn't want to answer him. At least truthfully anyway. "Whatever it was, it's passed now." She then remembered seeing Michael ignite his lightsaber, through himself, just before the carnage ended. It came back to her 'Michael!'
The girl turned to see the Time lord on one knee on the floor, clutching his abdomen, grunting quietly in pain.
"Michael?" she stepped towards him and put her hands on his shoulders.
"It's fine" he grunted. "I'm fine I'll be fine." He shakingly got up, Ahsoka supporting him holding his arm. As he grabbed his saber that he dropped with the force, his friend noticed the stab wound he was clutching.
A look of despair fell on her face. "Oh, Michael. You-"
"It never said-" he grunted again. "Which, Jedi had to give up his current life."
"Does this mean, you're going to,?" she didn't finish the question. The serious look on the boy's face answered it for her.
Anakin helped the pregnant Padme up, and approached to the two other Jedi. "Ahsoka, Michael, are either of you hurt?"
"I'm fine master" Ahsoka assured, smiling at him.
"It's good to see again snips" the knight hugged her and she hugged back. "Um, why are you dressed like that?"
"It's, a long story" Ahsoka remembered she was still in her Sith clothes.
Anakin let go and turned to the Time lord. "Michael, are you-?" he saw the stab wound too on the boy. "Did, did the chancellor do that to you?"
The boy paused before answering "Yes, yes but it's fine. You've heard about my regeneration energy right?"
Anakin remembered Obi-wan telling him. "No but Michael, you don't have to-, if we can get you to the medics in time-"
"No it's fine. It'll probably happen by the time I get to them anyway" Michael dismissed.
He glanced over at Padme who didn't say anything but she had seen Michael just before Sidious attacked them both, and he didn't have a stab wound then. He just gave her a look as to say 'I'll explain later'.
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On the outside of the Republic building, medics were treating anyone who was injured, and the clones who survived were given time to recover. Some were angry at the fact their brothers were killed when they had no control over what they were doing. Other clones understood, and knew the Jedi had to defend themselves. The brain chips were no doubt going to be public knowledge now.
By now master Yoda had arrived in a rocket, provided by the wookies, and was informed on everything that had just happened over the past few Coruscant hours. He was standing outside with master Kenobi, Secura, and Allie.
"Any word on the chancellor?" the old master asked.
"I spoke to Anakin just now over the comm. The chancellor is dead. And it appears that the brain chips inside the clones heads have been disabled."
"It's over then. The Sith have been defeated, and the war is over. The CIS aren't exactly standing anymore, no doubt a lot of them will rejoin the Republic" commented Stass Allie.
"A Republic that needs great reformation" added Aayla.
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Medics were bringing out more injured people as dawn came over this part of the planet, and more emergency services arrived in their ships.
Inside, despite his stab wound in his lower abdomen, still managed to walk, although limping, and using his remaining strength in the force to keep him going, as well as being supported by Ahsoka.
Anakin and Padme walked alongside them, as Michael explained everything about his mission to keep the timeline. Anakin was slightly angry at him at first, which Michael didn't blame him for, but seeing how the Time lord had went against that, even sacrificing himself to do so, the Jedi Knight understood, and was still very grateful for saving his wife and unborn children.
Both were definitely shocked however at what their futures were meant to be. Especially Anakin, who could not believe he would've strangled the person he would've died for, or betray the Jedi, or even becoming a Sith cyborg, renamed 'Vader'.
But it was different now. This galaxy was whatever they wanted to make of it. Whatever they chose.
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Outside, Anon, Jala, Lian, Zayn and Barriss were talking with the other, worried and wondering where their friends were. Eventually they saw them, with Michael stumbling out, Ahsoka holding onto him.
As Anakin and Padme went to join Obi-wan and the other masters, the padawans all greeted each other again. At first they were all excited, until they saw Michael had been wounded.
"Michael? Michael what happened?" asked Zayn.
"Did Palpatine do that? Did you defeat him?" wondered Jala.
Still clutching the wound, the Time lord answered "Yes, yes he's dead. Master Shaak Ti has also deactivated the brain chips in the clones. It's all over now."
"But, you've been wounded. We have to get you medical attention-" Anon was cut by Michael.
"No, no I can, I can heal myself. But," he paused while breathing heavily. "It means, it means I probably won't see you all again. At least, this version of me won't."
"Wha-, what do you mean?" asked Lian.
"When my species regenerates, we get new bodies, literally. It'll still be me, just, different. Physically." He looked up to meet all their eyes. "But y'know, I couldn't have asked for better, more incredible and resourceful Jedi to fight alongside. Training alongside of you all growing up in this body, it was a remarkable honor."
He turned to the Mirialan. "Same to you Barriss. You've got a great future as a Jedi, and I couldn't have turned Ahsoka back, if not for you. My greatest friend after Ahsoka."
Barriss didn't say anything, but just smiled and nodded, before wrapping her arms around the boy hugging him goodbye. The rest of the padawans either clasped hands or shook them with him.
At this point the masters approached the padawans. "Glad to see you all survived, you'll all have to be rewarded for this" Obi-wan figured.
"Knighthoods, I think is most suitable" Yoda announced, which brought smiles to most of their faces.
"You out of all though, padawan Res. Thanks to you, saved the Jedi order has been. Saved the Republic, defeated even a Sith master. Go down in Jedi history this certainly will" the green complemented. "Informed me of your injury, master Skywalker has. How you saved his senator wife, and as I understand, one regeneration left you have?"
"Yes master, I do I think it's time anyway. But I'm glad most masters survived. Are there any others?"
"We heard back from Mygeeto and Utapau, unfortunately master Mundi and Windu did not make it. Master Mundi was already in battle, and master Windu refused the use of a Varactyl, which caused him to be surrounded by clones. Neither of them made it" Obi-wan sadly informed.
There was a pause before Yoda spoke again to Michael. "Your change, when will it occur?"
"Anytime now." He pulled out a comm link. "If you'll excuse me, I still have a goodbye to make." Before he turned to leave, Michael said "Thank you for everything masters."
They watched him limp back inside the Republic building, all with worried faces, especially Ahsoka. She had a longing expression as if she wanted to be there, when it happened, which Anakin both noticed and sensed.
"Go snips, don't let him do it alone" he said placing a hand on her shoulder. She gave a soft smile as a reply and nodded, then proceeded to head in the direction her friend had.
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"So that's what happened master" the dying boy spoke over the comm.
"You knew about everything? And even though it had to happen, you still defied it" Shaak Ti, who was still on Kamino had just listened to Michael tell her everything. About why he was here in the galaxy in the first place, why he was telling her this now, the fixed points in time, and why he had to sacrifice himself.
"It's why I have to change."
Shaak, who had been studying a Time lord's regeneration process, knew what that meant. "It'll still be you though won't it?"
"Yeah, it'll still be me. Just, a little different, is all." He grunted again as a sharp pain struck around the stab wound.
"Michael?"
The boy breathed. "I don't have much time. Master, you were the first one who found when I fell into this galaxy. You introduced me to these worlds. You trained me for my first two years. I never wanted you to be killed. I didn't want master Plo to be killed either. You and him were both there, always there, whenever I needed guidance."
The Time lord was panting heavily during this speech, and felt the last of his regenerations building up inside him.
"If there will be no more regeneration energy after this, then that means you won't be as powerful as before. You'll be like a normal Jedi."
"Good. I'll see you master. You'll know it's me."
"Goodbye, Michael." Shaak turned off the comm. A single tear trickled down the emotionless monk's face.
Michael felt another pang of pain, and stumbled through the room hunched over.
Ahsoka could sense him, and found him leaning against a full sized window, looking out at the rising sun of the Coruscant system. The scars on his face closing. His bruises disappearing.
"I'll be just like any other Jedi after this" he said without turning to face her. "I won't have any regeneration energy left. The very thing that was enhancing my strength in the force."
"You also said that it allowed you to live for thousands of years" she slowly approached him. "What about now?"
"Now? I'd say, about eighty something years left" the boy figured.
The Togruta thought for a second. "That's about how long I-, I have left." She looked up at him and he met her gaze, before looking down again.
"Well, I guess we're growing old together, which is fitting since we grew up together. This face did anyway" Michael laughed. There was a short pause again before he continued. "Remember on Mustafar, just before we fought each other, you said you were partly doing it for me?"
Ahsoka wasn't looking him in the eye at that point. A slight blush appearing on her orange cheeks. "Yeah, I did. Like you said, we grew up together. We trained together. We fought, together. You know," her voice became quiet. "I always looked forward to seeing you after every mission. I admit, I was jealous of you. From the approval you always got from all the masters."
She looked up at him again. "But that will never excuse what I did. By the time I turned, I didn't turn out of jealousy. It's just, when I heard the council planning to remove your regeneration energy, and I was so convinced we would have a better life, and I-" she rambled.
"Ahsoka" the Time lord stopped her. "You're back now, that's what matters." There was another silence. "And I'm sorry. If I did show you up in anyway. It wasn't deliberate."
"I'm the one who should be apologising. I can't imagine what I would've done if I were in your situation. What was it like having to make relationships with people knowing they were going to die? Or knowing the fate of this galaxy?" the girl placed a hand on his arm.
"Terrible" the boy replied. "I even had to, correct, time in some places." Michael sucked in a breath and with a remorseful face confessed "I let Toja die Ahsoka. I let master Even Piell die. I've never forgiven myself. And I suppose now, I too am dying for the timeline. Sort of like a penance."
The Togruta stood there in thought for a second before answering "If they would have known what would've happened, they would most probably sacrifice themselves anyway. They were very brave, and so are you. One of the most bravest Jedi I've ever met."
Michael smiled doubtfully. "What about you now? Are you still remaining with the order?"
Ahsoka replied "You said we were going to grow old together right? Well, I want that. Literally want that. As I said before, we grew together, you were brave, you are intelligent, you always cheered me up and made me laugh, you were a fantastic soldier to fight alongside, I couldn't stand being away from you. And I know Jedi aren't supposed to have these emotions but that's why I want to leave them."
She looked him in the eye. "I've been feeling this for a while now. All those times we had together, all those adventures, Michael, I love you." She stepped closer and hugged him. "And I don't, want you to change, I don't want you to go." She cried quietly into his shoulder.
He was very wooden and very fragile because of the injury. And as he went to hug her back, he noticed a golden light appearing in his hand. "Ahsoka Tano" he shook his head. "For as long as I have been in this galaxy, you've been there by my side for most of it. There was more to me wanting to turn you back to the light, than just being your friend. Took me this long to realise it, but, to be honest, with my 'mission', I probably would've went insane if not for you being there."
She let go of him slightly. He continued "You were one of the few things that kept me going through all this and, and that's probably why I wanted to so desperately turn you back. Because the truth is, I think I'm in love with you too, Ahsoka."
Both just stared at the other, only looking away when Michael started to glow a bright yellow. "I guarantee you, the next version of me will love you as well."
"Whatever you look like, you're still my Michael Res." Ahsoka hugged him again, and the Time lord looked out the window at the rising Coruscant sun.
Arriving in this galaxy, training with the others, saving force sensitive children, discovering a Sith temple, fighting in a citadel and a jungle, fighting Sith, destroying Daleks, stopping order 66 and changing the galaxy's timeline for the better.
"I don't mind that I'm changing." The two looked at each other again, as the yellow light became brighter around the boy. "But I reckon I had my moments, didn't I?"
The pair smiled, and Ahsoka moved forward, pressing her lips to his, kissing him. The two stood like that for the few seconds that they had, and then Michael suddenly broke off as the golden light engulfed him completely. He threw his head back and both his head and hands exploded with energy.
Ahsoka stepped back and shielded her eyes, though she still managed to see it happening. She saw the hole in his abdomen close up. His height changing ever so slightly. And his face restructuring itself. Finally it ended, and the golden light disappeared. The Time lord threw his head back up, and the Togruta got a good look at him.
It was true what he said, he did look different, like a different person. The face was different, as well as the hair. It was now jet black, as compared to brown like before. There was also just slightly less of it too.
She watched him look at his reflection in the window, feeling his new facial structure and stubble. He ran his hands through his hair and felt his ears. "Huh, only one earlobe." His voice was different too, though there still was that intrigue that he always had whenever he used to examine something.
True he was different, but she could still sense him. That same force signature, it was Michael alright. All her senses and feelings were telling her that it was definitely him, helped of course by the bond in the force that the two shared.
The new boy turned to the other Jedi. "Ahsoka, am I-, do I look okay?"
The girl slowly placed her hands on his shoulders. "You look, amazing" she wrapped her arms around him again, knowing no matter what, this was still Michael. They kissed one more time.
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Most of the Jedi had returned to the temple by now, including the ones from across the galaxy, even the bodies of the ones who didn't make it, along with the remorseful clones. The Republic building was on lockdown by security, with a group of few senators temporally taking charge as Mas Amedda was being held under investigation.
By the time Michael and Ahsoka returned to the temple, everyone else had too, apart from Shaak who was still on her way back from Kamino. When the two padawans walked through the doors of the temple and into the main hall, which was filled already with Jedi.
They went almost unnoticed at first, until some of them sensed Michael's presence. They were confused. Their senses were telling them it was him, but it didn't look like him. It wasn't until Barriss, Anon, Jala, Lian and Zayn approached them, did all the other Jedi realise.
"Ahsoka! And, Michael? Is that you?" Jala questioned. Everything in the force was telling them that this was true.
"Yeah, it's me" he shrugged.
"So, this is you now?" Barriss studied him, and turned to the others. "Michael's species can change their face when they're dying. I learned about that from my master Luminara."
"That's what you meant by change?" Anon implied.
"Nonetheless, it's still the boy who saved the Republic" a Jedi master close by announced, as all the others had overheard the conversation between the padawans, and proceeded to give Michael a standing ovation, all applauding him. And although he felt like he didn't deserve it, the newly changed Michael accepted it anyway.
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Entering his room in the temple, the Gallifreyan closed the door behind him and took out the small projector device he kept hidden. He activated it, and the two holographic late Time lords appeared.
"Ooh it's been awhile since we've been activated-, Michael? Is that you?" Henga turned and saw the physically changed boy in front of them.
"So what happened then?" asked Kaben. "Blaster fire? Disease? Wait, isn't this the morning after the empire is established?"
"Yeah, things have changed slightly" Michael informed.
"What do you mean by that?" Henga eyed him.
"I found a loophole in the fixed points in time. So I altered them"
"Altered them? Michael are you insane? How did you even find out what the fixed points in time were?" Henga exclaimed.
"I looked into the time stream inside an old TARDIS that belonged to an dead Sith Time lord."
"Is that why you regenerated? You absorbed the time vortex?" wondered Kaben.
"No, one of the fixed points was a Jedi giving up his former life, which was meant to be Anakin, but…"
Kaben sighed "I see. And the others?"
Michael explained to them the fixed points and how he avoided them. How the galaxy was now safe.
"You'd better not do the same for future fixed points" warned Henga.
"Well you see the thing is" Michael began "because the changing of these fixed points were so drastic, it's no doubt going to cancel out all the other future ones. This galaxy's future is ambiguous now. They're going to decide it instead of time, which I'm all in favour for."
"So what are you saying?" Kaben eyed.
The boy sighed. "Thank you for your services Kaben and Henga." He picked up the projector. "If not for you, I wouldn't have ended up in this galaxy. I wouldn't have met everyone I know now. But, I'm afraid I don't require either of you, anymore."
"Michael you better not-" Henga was cut off when he crushed the projector in his palm. Placing it in his pocket, he did for a second slightly regret doing that, as those two were still Time lords like himself, but he remembered they were dead anyway. Those were just there consciousnesses. Either way, he'd would've been the last of his kind. Probably.
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Changing out of his war torn tunic and into a new one, the newly regenerated Michael Res headed out of his room, and it wasn't long until he was met again by master Yoda, Obi-wan, and even Shaak who had just arrived back to the temple. She instantly sensed the presence of the boy she raised, and looked upon his new face as if she had known it for years.
"Michael, I'm glad you're okay. Oh, um, here" she held out his sonic device. But instead of taking it, he just shook his head.
"Keep it master. I can always find the technology to build my own again."
"Now, a knighthood, I think we should discuss, hm?" inquired Yoda.
"With respect master" Michael looked down at him. "I was actually thinking, and I've thought about this a lot, that I've achieved all I could as a Jedi, and there isn't really much left for me here at the temple. So if it's okay, I would like to reject my knighthood, and in exchange would like to leave the order, and start a life or myself."
"If that is what truly makes you happy young Res, then leave this order, you can" the old master replied.
"I suppose it's only fitting. Ahsoka asked us the same thing, she's leaving too. And as for Anakin, the council has allowed him to stay, and even allowed him to train his children here, once they are ready" Obi-wan explained. "This is goodbye, again then Michael?" he asked.
"I'll stay for the knighting of my friends, and the funerals of the masters. I want to be there for master Plo's one." The Gallifreyan bowed to master Yoda and Kenobi, and instead of bowing to him, Shaak Ti instead hugged the boy, which he returned.
After the conversation with the masters he discovered Ahsoka was having one of her own with her master. He didn't interject, he just listened from a distance.
"I should've praised you more Ahsoka, I should've paid more attention, and strengthened your weaknesses" Anakin sounded remorseful.
"Master, don't blame yourself. At the end of the day it was my decision to turn to the dark. I was wrong in a lot of areas too. But I did realise, at least for me, that maybe the Jedi teachings and way aren't suitable. I'd much rather discover the mysteries of the force in my own way. And don't worry, I won't delve into the dark, I've been there already."
Michael sensed a familiar presence stand by his side. "You know, there are a few nice places in the Naboo lake countries not too far from Theed." Senator Amidala was too watching the exchange between her husband and his apprentice.
"With my influence, I can even help find a place. This galaxy, and especially me, owe you so much. It's the least I can do."
"What about senator?" he turned to her. "What will you do once the babies arrive?"
Padme rubbed her stomach. "The Republic still needs reforming, and the galaxy uniting. Of course because of the babies I want to spend all the time I can with them. But I'll stay here to help with whatever I can with the Republic. I don't think I'll remain as senator though, I'll let the Queen decide on a new one."
The conversation between Anakin and Ahsoka continued. "Thank you for everything though Anakin, I couldn't have asked for more." The Togruta, who was no longer wearing that Sith outfit and was back in her old Jedi clothing, removed one of her padawan braids and handed it to him in his artificial hand.
"Goodbye snips."
Michael watched the two hug each other, before Padme suddenly felt a pain in her stomach, clutching it tightly. He could sense through the force what was happening. He held onto her, supporting her, and called over. "Anakin, sorry to interrupt but, I think you should tend to your wife."
"Padme?" the Jedi rushed over.
"Ani, the babies" she breathed. "I think, I think-"
"Okay hold on, I'll get you to the nearest medical centre" he held her, and Ahsoka came up to Michael's side. "So, are we staying for the birth as well?"
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Luke and Leia, which the babies were named, were delivered a few hours later, alive and healthy thanks to Michael's regeneration energy.
He and Ahsoka stayed in the temple during the funerals, especially master Plo's, and also for the knighting of Barriss, Anon, Jala, Lian and Zayn.
Saying their final goodbyes, the two ex Jedi left the temple, and too a place on Naboo. A small house built into a hillside next to other houses, just beside a lake, which they were helped by senator Amidala to accommodate.
However neither of them really lost their sense of adventure, still travelling together across the galaxy, wanting to learn more about the mysteries of the force, Ahsoka especially, after her brush with the dark side. She wanted to know more on other aspects and on how to use dark side powers but without falling to it.
Michael just wanted to see and explore the rest of the galaxy, something that he never got to do during his time fighting in the clone wars. Now that he was just the same as any other force user, well almost, the council had no issue with him travelling the galaxy like this. Even if they had, they had no power to stop him. Ahsoka still used master Plo's lightsaber, in memory of him, something Michael was especially glad about.
The Republic got a new chancellor, senator Mon Mothma, persuaded to run by Padme of course, and for the systems that used to be apart of the Confederacy, half of them rejoined the galactic government. Luke and Leia were initiated into Jedi training, both of them with promising futures. Anakin and Padme took the twins with them whenever they visited the former padawans, which was easier since Padme resigned as senator.
Barriss and the rest of their old friends visited them too inbetween missions, as did Shaak Ti, whenever the pair were on Naboo. However, Michael and Ahsoka started staying on Naboo more often, making a living as a scientific advisor and military advisor, since the two eventually had offspring of their own.
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On a sort of porch looking over the Naboo lake illuminated by the moonlight, both the adult Time lord and Togruta sat with each child asleep in their arms. The two small boys looked like regular Time lords, but had montrals, as well as two hearts each. No regeneration energy though, but had a great sensitivity to the force. They were named Delta and Vael.
"Do you think we should train them? Should we keep them out of all that?" the mother of the children turned to her husband, whilst still sat down in the chair.
The father thought for a minute. "Maybe we should, and perhaps in the ways that you learnt. Only if you think they're ready of course."
"I think so." Ahsoka paused before changing the subject. "I suppose these two count as Time lords don't they? Well, sort of."
Michael's only reply was to smile down at his small son asleep in his arms and then look up at the stars. "Y'know, there are times where I do actually wonder, if I was the only one to survive? If the legacy of Gallifrey still lives on out there in the rest of the universe. There is still is a whole universe to see, but, I'm past all that now. Whatever path this galaxy decides to take now, since all other fixed points have been canceled out, we'll be interesting enough to see."
The Time lord knew there would still be problems in the future. Darth Maul was still out there of course, as well as Boba Fett. But he'd cross those bridges when he came to it. For now he had a family to take care of, and couldn't ask for more. He never forgot all his old long gone Gallifreyan friends however, and the fact that he alone was one of the few ever of his race to become Jedi, and save the entire universe from ripping apart, he truly did have an extraordinary life for such a short one. Short for his race anyway. He finally had found full happiness.
He shared one more kiss with his wife, before continuing to gaze out at the Naboo moonlit lake, ready to start a new chapter as Michael Res, the Jedi Time lord.
That's it then, the final chapter to my longest, most viewed, and slightly ashamed to admit, longest to complete fanfiction. I started this in early January 2016, and now it's July 2017! I just wanna say thanks to all who stuck around for this long, to all those who favorited, followed and reviewed. A massive shoutout to all of you amazing people.
And just to quickly reply to some:
Trill2013: Thank you very much! I don't know if I'll ever write another story about Michael, but to be honest, if ever another author wants to write one of their own about him, I'm completely cool with that, I doubt they will though. Thanks again.
Asteria25: I was kinda going for the whole WW2 romance sorta thing where the soldiers are leaving and have to go off and fight, and are saying goodbye to their loved ones. In this case fellow orphans but you get the idea. And what's wrong with heels? When I imagined dark side Ahsoka it made her look badass in my opinion.
So Thanks again to everyone for reading! I've edited the first couple of chapters as I admit they were a bit difficult to read. So happy reading everyone and see ya!
Doctor who belongs to BBC, Star wars to lucasfilm/Disney.