Darkness. I opened my eyes. Or had I closed them? I tried again. I couldn't tell whether my eyes were open or closed. The absolute blackness was engulfing. And it stunk. Not of trash or fire, not of death or decay. Of evil. The power of the darkside was strong here. The strongest I've ever felt before.

I retched, my knees collapsing under me as I fell to the floor with a thud. Hands tied behind my back, I was unable to break my fall. My chest hit the ground, heaving, as I threw up. I lay there, unmoving. I could feel my vomit, sticky against my cheek.

"Pathetic." A cold voice spoke into the thick air. " The Jedi are so pathetic. Weak. You are no match for me."

A light flickered on above me. So my eyes were open after all. The dim light didn't do much to illuminate the room, but it showed me everything I needed to see. I lay at the bottom of a large throne, looking up at the ghastly figure sitting upon it. She smiled a cruel, cold smile.

Reaching a hand to her head, she brushed the cloak out her eyes in one fluid motion, revealing the face that lay beneath. She was ugly. But not ugly in the way that made you look away. No. She was ugly in the way that made you look forever, that made you stare into her eyes, notice every detail.

"Who are you?" I asked, finally tearing my gaze away from her haunting face.

"Oh, but that would be too easy," she laughed. "I tell you who I am, you send in your pretty little friends to kill me, you laugh all the way home. But not today. Everything is under my control, everything will go exactly as I say it will."

"You're a Sith, don't deny it. I can sense it. So tell me the truth. Who are you?"

"You're so cute when you're flustered," she laughed. "I almost pity you for what is about to happen. But, of course, I don't. You Jedi had it coming."

"You can't do anything! You have no power over us!"

"That's where you're wrong, my dear. You see, your master is already on his way to save you."

"No," I said. "You're lying. Anakin isn't coming for me. He's getting that family to safety."

"Your faith in your master to do the right thing is pathetic. Do you really believe he would abandon you for some worthless family? The family is dead, Ahsoka. And soon, so will your master."

"No. No. You're lying to me. I don't believe you."

"Of course I'm lying to you. You believe I'm a Sith, evil. But my origins are so much more… godly. But I'm not lying to you about this. Your master is coming to you as we speak. And then he will die."

"If you aren't a Sith, then what are you?" I asked, ignoring the rest of her comment. "Because you are not a god."

"Oh, but you're wrong again, as you so often are. The name given to me by the Greeks, when they worshipped me, was Gaea. But to you, your feeble mind understands the world only in black and white. Good and evil. The Jedi, and the Sith. To you, I cannot be a god and a villain. So I am Darth Erde."

My breath caught in my throat. A Sith on Earth? This planet was supposed to be in isolation, a young world, shielded from the ravages of war beyond its solar system.

"You can't be here."

"I know. Yet, here I am. I was not created, I was born. I grew to be a god, and then when the time was right, I became a Sith. You see, the Sith are as natural as the Jedi. Together, we bring a balance to the force. I am the creation of millions of minds, as they strive for peace, but ultimately fail."

"You are disgusting. You're lying. The humans are a good people. They could never create a monster like you."

"You have missed some classes, young one," she chuckled. "What 'a monster like me' does is nothing compared to what the humans do to each other. But oh, it looks like we're out of time for friendly conversation. Your master is here."

I squirmed as she bent down to pick me up off the floor, wiping the vomit off my face. She set me down next to her, so that we occupied the throne together.

"Let me go!" I shouted.

"Never," she whispered. "You will become my apprentice. My student. My princess of darkness."

I squirmed away from her touch, jerking my head away from her caressing hand. She let her hand trail down my arm, her cold fingers raising goosebumps on my skin. I couldn't move. My hands were tied.

There was a knock at the door. Of course he would. Anakin had never been one for subtlety, and now was no exception. Obi-Wan was the one with the plans. Stealth, negotiations. But those were his strengths, not Anakin's. He would rather face the whole room head on. And somehow luck, and of course no limitations in skill, allowed him to win.

So far.

"Open the door," Gaea commanded.

There is always a day when your luck runs out. A day when your skills falter. Seeing him standing there, sweating, lightsaber hanging low at his side, he did not look like a man with luck on his side.

"Get away," he panted, "from my Padawan."

"Foolish Jedi," she smirked. "She's my Padawan now. I own her. Her actions, her thoughts. They are all mine."

"No. Ahsoka?" He looked at me hopefully.

"I leave his fate in your hands, my Padawan," Gaea smiled at me. I shivered. "Say you will be my Padawan, and your beloved master walks out of this room alive. But if you refuse me, know that there will be consequences."

I'm back! Sorry for the wait, but at least it wasn't as long as last time. I plan to finish this story pretty soon, so we're probably in the last few chapters. Now, without further ado, enjoy the next chapter!

I looked at my master, standing in the doorway. He could get out. If he left me, he could turn and run now. He could make it to the surface. Find Annabeth. Get as far away from this place as possible.

I met his eyes, and smiled. He flashed me one of his classic grins. Finally, I knew for sure that I was doing the right thing.

"I will never be your Padawan," I growled.

Gaea sighed. "Kill him."

Just as I had predicted, Anakin ran. But it was wrong. He was running the wrong way. He was running towards me."