Anakin ran down the steps of the temple to stop her.
Anakin: AHSOKA!
She stopped mid way down the stairs and turned to face him.
Anakin: Ahsoka wait, you can't leave.
Ahsoka: Anakin I can't stay here, none of them trusted me. None of them believed in me, how can I continue to serve an order that would turn its back on me.
Anakin: I never turned my back on you, I believed in you!
Ahsoka: and I am grateful for that.
She looked into his eyes then. Trying to convey with her look how grateful she really was to him and how sorry she was now.
Ahsoka: But if the order can be so wrong about this, then what else have they gotten wrong. I still believe in saving the galaxy, I want it to change it for the better, but I have to find the right way to do it….. Away from the order and away from you.
Anakin looked away from her.
Anakin: I know Ahsoka, believe me I know what it feels like to want to leave the order.
Ahsoka reached for him, turning him by his shoulder and saw the conflict that warred in him. She had felt it since the first day they met. It was the part of him that cared deeply for all beings, that wanted the best for the galaxy, and that over their years of friendship, made her love him. She put her hands on his cheeks without thinking and cupped his face so that he was looking in her eyes. For a moment the warring in him stopped, as feelings unspoken and un-expressed danced between them. Anakin's hands began to reach for her waist, but stopped half way and falling back to his sides. The warring emotions returned to his eyes and Ahsoka signed. She started to speak without thinking.
Ahsoka: Anakin all you've wanted since the day we've met is peace for the galaxy and for you. You've wanted to be free from everything that's been placed on your shoulders. You've given yourself to the order, and I've….
She looked down from his face. She had to stop her train of thought before she said something she shouldn't. She knew about Padma and didn't want to cause him any trouble by reveling how she felt.
Ahsoka: I've given them everything too, but we've never gotten what we needed. The peace we're striving for gets further and further away, the more we reach for it.
She took a deep breath to steady herself.
Ahsoka: I think we might be heading in the wrong direction. So I have to go. I have to find my own way.
Anakin had nothing he could say to her. He had believed for so long that everyone around him didn't truly support him, they were only holding him back. That if only he had more power, more authority, that he would guide them all to peace. That they were to blame for his failures, but hearing her words. Spoken to him by the only one he felt supported him unconditionally, made him realize the truth.
He didn't know how to save the galaxy. He had no answer for her. He didn't know how to fix the order, didn't know how to change the Senate, or find the dark lord behind it all. In front of his friend, his apprentice, the one person who stood by him through all of his successes and failures. He wouldn't boast, he wasn't going to clam to have the answers. His hands hang at sides as he realized his failure. He just didn't have it and he was the only one to blame.
Ahsoka felt his warring emotions collapse and the void that opened up in him. She wanted to pull him close and sooth him, to let him know he wasn't alone, but if she did that she knew she wouldn't leave. As her hands slowly slid down his face she felt a dark pull from within her. She slowly backed away folding in on herself. She took one last look at him and felt a small pin prick of light in her now darkened inner world. She pushed it deep within her and finally turned and walked away.
Anakin didn't know how long he stood there in the ruins of his failures. All he new was that when he came back to himself it was night and Obiwan was standing next to him, with one hand on his shoulder. One look at Anakin and he knew no words could help him right now. He simple turned him around and guided him back to the temple.
Obiwan observed that after Ahsoka left the fire Anakin was know for seemed to leave him. The brash pride he was famous for seemed to dull and he became more withdrawn. In the coming months he even stopped all communication with Padma and spent his free time either in the temple training or receiving council from Chancellor Palpatine. Although pleased that his former apprentice had stopped his relationship with Padma, he didn't trust Palpatine and kept an eye on the man.
Palpatine sat in his office chair just having finished a conversation with Anakin. He smiled in dark satisfaction, the boy was finally ready to except the darkside fully, he just needed one final push. He'd planned to use Padma for that, but with the break down of their relationship he had to use other means. He worked slowly to make the boy dependent on his council and now that he had his trust he needed to ignite the darkside within him and he had just the means to that end. He had left maul to his own devices to see what he would do and it turns out that after the death of his brother he had found a new apprentice. Sidious smiled in satisfaction as everything went according to his plan, it was time to move the final pieces into play and bring this war to an end. He reached for his comm to let Tyranus know it was time for the final act.
Ahsoka sat cross legged in a dark room. As Maul circled her slowly watching her progress and feeding her hate.
She had wondered the galaxy for a while after leaving the order. Trying to figure out the best way to help change the galaxy, but time and time again she was met with failure. No one in this time of war seemed to want peace. All they wanted was more power. It was at her lowest point where she was beginning to lost all hope in the lightside of the force. That Maul offered her an alternative. At first she refused, but over time. With a combination of his words and the proof all around her, she finally took his offer.
Maul: The Jedi were not there for you, the first chance they got they turned their backs on you. They never loved you, they don't even know how to love. They feel nothing, they care for no one, all of there lofty ideals ring hollow. Without passion to fill you, without passion to drive you, you can never hope to change anything. The dark side is passion, the dark side is power. The only way to change this galaxy is with the darkside.
As he spoke he reached out with the force to push on her will to stay true to the light. Feeding her dark thoughts, pain and anger.
Maul: The Jedi don't want to change anything. That is why they shun the dark side, as long as they can stay in their castle on Coruscant they don't care if the galaxy is fill with wrongs and injustice. They wouldn't have lifted a finger to stop this war if they weren't threated by the change it brings.
Maul continued to speak, circling and closing in as he did.
Maul: But we know better, we know how to change this galaxy, we have the vision, the will and the passion to make it a reality.
Maul stopped behind her, reaching out with the force, and folding them within the darkside.
Shadows consumed Ahsoka mind. The darkness felt alive with power. It sunk into her bones, seething into her spirit. Attaching to her pain and anger at being abandoned by the Jedi. Among the dark was a small pin prick of light. Her love, her peace, it was all that was left of her light. Knowing the galaxy around her wouldn't except such a thing, she buried it in the darkness slowly consuming her. Now she fully turned toward the dark.
Maul smiled.
Maul: Good my apprentice. Now ...
He reached his hand forward, past her right shoulder and Ahsoka's hand came up in unison.
Maul: Reach out, with your hate. Give yourself to the darkside.
Following Mauls words, she reached out with her anger, her pain, and the world caught fire.
Power, pure power coursed through her unlike anything she'd felt before.
She open her eyes.
They were yellow now and behind her Maul smiled.
Anakin and Obiwan walked briskly to the hanger as the last of the invasion plans had been given out.
Obiwan: Cody as soon as we're planet side I need your men to secure the palace first. I'll deal with maul myself, and once that's taken care of and Anakin has rescued Ahsoka, we will encircle Maul's army and force their surrender.
At the Mention of Ahsoka's name Anakin's angry rose. He thought back to the holo of her shackled like some animal Maul standing over her goading him and Obiwan to come and take her. Never before had he been so angry. He could barely contain it. He focused it toward the mission. Used it to fuel his focus. Outwardly he was calm, but underneath it, his anger raged.
Obiwan was discussing battle plans with Cody, as they continued toward the hanger.
But Rex looking at Anakin didn't need to asking anything. His face might have been calm , but Rex new better. He kept his head forward, but out of the corner of his eye. He saw and heard Anakin's metal hand flex and clench.
Once in the hanger Obiwan gave his final orders to Cody and turned to wish Anakin good luck, but all he saw was his fighter lift off along with his troop transports. Seeing this he said quietly into the air.
"May the force be with you" and then he turned to his own mission.
Once downside they skimmed the surface of Mandalore. Heading for the coordinates given by Maul. Rex gave the men their final orders now that they were away from the hanger.
Rex switched his helmet so only his men could hear him.
Rex: When we get to the warehouse we are to secure the area. Red team be ready to receive Commander Tano when she is recovered. Gold team will be on stand by to assist the general if he needs it.
One gold team clone spoke up.
"Sir why aren't we going in with the general?."
Rex: Plausible deniability.
Trooper: Sir?
Rex: I have a feeling were better off not knowing what the general will do to the SOB's when he's within lightsaber range.
At that every trooper nodded.
As soon as they arrived on sight the fighting was Immediate the clone ran from there troop transport and behind cover and shortly after Anakin joined them. Landing his fighter a little ways off. They waited for the transport to lay down suppressive fire, so they could advance. All the while Anakin stared unblinking at the warehouse, his metal hand flexing on his lightsaber. The fire of the transport rained down on the enemy positions and the clones burst from cover. Anakin sped off like he was shot out of a cannon. Swing and slashing Mandalorian's to pieces. Soon he disappeared inside, leaving the fighting outside to Rex.
Once inside, Anakin let his anger loss. It spread from him like a cloud of darkness. He ran through the facility killing with brutal efficiency. There were no screams of pain or cry's for mercy. Just death, necks snapped to the point where their heads drooped past their shoulders before their bodies hit the ground, men and women alike, sliced in half. He ran through the building, his rage billowing off of him like a cloud of death.
Until atlast he saw her. Chained limply to a wall, at the sight of her limp body his anger soared, but when she moved. It evaporated. Only relief and worry were left.
He ran to her.
Anakin: AHSOKA!
He broke the chains off with the force and caught her before her body hit the ground.
Anakin: Ahsoka are you ok!?
Ahsoka: Anakin...
She said it slowly as if forcing the words.
Anakin: I'm here now Ahsoka, everything is going to be ok, I'll…
But before he could say another word. Before he could tell her that he would never let her go again. He was jumping backward on pure instinct. He had felt the killer intent of the dark side to many times to not move. He felt the dark side surge and felt the heat of the lightsaber that nearly cut his head off.
Confused, but alert he ignited his saber.
Ahsoka stood slowly ignited a second lightsaber. Anakin's heart sank when he saw that their colors were red.
Ahsoka looked up at him with yellow eyes and smiled.
Anakin: Ahsoka... wha...why?
His mind tried to make since of what it was seeing.
Ahsoka: I wish you'd have let me kill you quickly master. You were the only one to care about me and I didn't want you to suffer.
She shrugged her shoulders and stretched her neck, stepping slowly toward him as she spoke.
Ahsoka: oh well, can't be helped. Your in the way of change master. For the galaxy to be balanced, the Jedi must be purged.
Anakin felt empty as he felt how strong the dark side was in her. Had this been what happened to her. His arms went limp at his side and his lightsaber slipped from his fingers. Seeing this Ahsoka stopped.
Anakin felt the guilt wrap around him. It was all his fault.
Anakin: is this what you want?
Ahsoka: Yes, the galaxy won't change as long as the Jedi remain. I will change the galaxy and balance the force, but the Jedi must be purged.
Anakin looked down, he could feel her hate, her sadness, her grief, as well as his own. They surrounded him like a shroud. He felt heavy and so, so tired. Tired of the blood, tired of the fighting, tired of failing, he had failed to many times. This one, is the one that broke him. He took a deep breath and let it out.
Anakin: kill me.
Ahsoka froze, the calm veneer slipping and the smile fell from her face.
Ahsoka: what?
Anakin: I failed you, I couldn't protect you from the council, I couldn't keep you from the darkside, and I couldn't guide you to greatness. You are better than I ever could be. You are the best of me and I believe you can change the galaxy, but not consumed by hate. I know where that road leads. Blaze your own path, find the answers I couldn't. Search your feelings and give me all your hate, sadness and grief. Let me take it into death with me. So you can be free.
With that Anakin closed his eyes stretched out his hands and waited. In that moment he released everything he had held on to for years. All his failures, his success, his status as the chosen one, he let them all go and was just, Anakin. In that moment of release he felt peace, more peace than he'd ever felt in his life. Out of all things he doubted in his life, he new without a shadow of a doubt he was meant to be here, right now, for this moment. Finally balanced in the force he waited.
A storm of emotions warred in Ahsoka. Hate, love, anger, forgiveness, grief and peace. She gripped her sabers in frustration, focusing on her anger.
Ahsoka Thoughts: He's trying to trick you, take your power. The dark side will free me, it will give me the power to change everything.
She stepped forward, plugging deep into the force. Searching for that pool of hate, the emotion that would fill her with power. The dark side fell over her like a shroud. Growing darker and darker. She was now a meter from him. She tightened the grip on her sabers, closed her eyes, and sank as deep as she could go in the force, searching for her passion, and the spark that would light the fire of the darkside. She once again found a pin prick of light in the dark. She smothered it with the darkside, pushing it deep within her, and as darkness took its place she smiled. She raised her saber and opened her eyes.
But instead of the dark, all she saw was light. This light radiated from Anakin a peace she'd only dreamed of laid bared in front of her. Her lightsabers slipped from her fingers as the light that she tried to smother within herself exploded through her, her eyes turned blue and the dark shroud was torn away. Instead of seeing only darkness wherever she looked, now she sensed pin pricks of light scattered throughout the galaxy. She looked at Anakin and felt centered in the force. No fear, no hate, she felt whole onto herself. She stepped toward him her mind totally clear, she knew what she was supposed to do, what she was meant to do. She reached up wrapping both of her hands around the back of his neck and pulled him down to her.
Anakin felt like whatever was going to happen next would change the galaxy and that Ashoka would be the catalyst. He could feel it in the force around him, so he was content with dying. He would give his life to her if it meant finally doing something right. In the force he felt her come closer and within her he felt the shift in the force. She would be a catalyst for a great change, he was sure of it and with that realization he smiled just a little.
But what he felt next had his smile fall and his eyes flew open. Ahsoka had pulled his neck down and. Pressed her lips to his and for a moment he didn't know what to do, but he soon recovered, and wrapped his arms around her lifting her off the ground and kissing her back. When they finally parted he looked at her eyes and was glad to see they were blue once again. Although the room was dark they were filled with light. Heads pressed together they just stood there, feeling the force change around them. Knowing that from here on out everything would be changed forever.
Sidious sat on a separatist ship after his staged kidnapping by Grievous and waited for Anakin and Obiwan to arrive. He was smiling to himself at the knowledge that after killing his apprentice Anakin would lose his last link to the light and be his for good. But the thought had not fully come into his head before he was mentally reeling back at the shocking change in the force. For a long time now he had been the only one manipulating the force, but now he felt a force even greater than his balancing dark and light. Sidious sank into the darkside to see who it was and was blasted from his meditative state by the feeling of two force users. Despite this he knew who they were and the realization stunned him.
Anakin…..
He had never felt this much peace in the boy. He tried to reach out with the darkside, but was rebuffed and he knew that Anakin was now out of his reach. Sidious tried to look to the future, but found it unknowable. Everything had change, stunned by the enormity of the event that just took place. All he could do was sit in his chair and stair into the dark.