This fanfiction was partially inspired by Under your mask series on Archive of Our Own, where Kanan died on Malachor. However, in my fanfiction, he and Ahsoka swap roles. As in this is sort of a Kanan lives AU but a swapping role fanfic too and is a rewrite of season 3. So, please be patient with this story as plot unfolds.
"KANAN NO!" Ezra shouted as he saw Kanan engaging the enemy Darth Vader. Keeping the Sith Holocron in one hand and his ruined lightsaber in the other, Ezra watched in horror as Vader and Kanan engaged each other. Why had he trusted Maul? He distracted them long enough to get Vader there in the first place. He tried rushing but Ahsoka immediately threw her arms around Ezra. The boy didn't realize that Ahsoka was just restraining him to protect him. As Kanan slashed at the former Sith Lord and temporarily blinded, he had one last chance look to his padawan.
"Ezra, go!" Kanan shouted to his apprentice. With one last strain, Ezra finally broke free from Ahsoka's grasp.
"No, not without you," Ezra cried. With terror, he shot his hand out and sent Vader down, albeit temporarily. "I'm not leaving you Kanan, not after everything that happened!"
"You have too." Kanan said. "Know that I love you as if you were my own son, Ezra Bridger."
"And I love you Kanan, which is why you can't do this! Sacrificing yourself is not the answer!"
"I'm sorry, Ezra, but you must. "Tell Hera I'm sorry I broke my promise to her. Now, please, go."
Ezra shook his head. Vader came back up, approaching Kanan with his lightsaber, causing the Jedi to raise up his own blade as Vader attacked him.
"NO!" Ezra shouted. Ahsoka had half a mind to use the Force but she saw the look in Kanan's eyes. He pleaded to her through the Force: "Protect him, Ahsoka. Better than I ever could."
Ahsoka nodded in sadness and looked at Ezra.
"Ezra, we have to go now!" Ahsoka shouted as Ezra watched in sadness as the temple began closing. Without hesitation, Ahsoka's hand latched onto Ezra's arm and she dragged the teenager to the Phantom as the lift closed. Ezra collapsed onto the bench, crying his heart out as Chopper mournfully chirped, coming right up next to Ezra and putting his mechanical arm on his leg in comfort. Ezra didn't turn him away, he just let Chopper comfort him. The guilt was too much. He'd left Kanan. His Master, and in ways, his father. Ahsoka got the Phantom off the planet as the Sith temple collapsed, activating the hyperspace. The Togruta looked to her young friend, watching her cry. As she activated the autopilot she sat right beside Ezra.
"I'm sorry, Ezra," Ahsoka said. The boy looked up but instead of glaring, he was giving the woman a look of sadness. She laid a hand on Ezra's shoulder. The Padawan couldn't help but throw his arms around Ahsoka's midsection and lean his face into the Togruta woman's shoulder. Ahsoka did not hesitate to throw her own arms around the human boy in the motherly embrace.
Ahsoka may not be a Jedi but she would do as Kanan promised: she would train Ezra throughout the rest of his Jedi trials and protect him as much as she could. Even until her dying breath.
As Atollon made its way into view Ezra began wondering how he was going to explain what happened to Kanan, the man that Hera loved and promised they would see each other again soon. The pain and suffering she would endure. The crew came into mind. How would they all feel when they learned that the father figure of the Ghost crew was never returning.
They were all going to be heartbroken.
Last time, three Force-wielders left for Malachor and yet, two only returned. A former Jedi who was neutral in the Force and a boy, still a Jedi Padawan. When Hera didn't see Kanan, she was immediately filled with fear and terror. It deepened to sadness when she saw her foster son's looks of pain and regret. He was holding a strange triangular object in one hand and a ruined lightsaber in the other. Realizing their confused looks, Ezra and Ahsoka told Rex, Hera, Zeb and Sabine of the events that unfolded and that they could not mostly, of Kanan's sacrifice so Ahsoka and Ezra could make their escape. As he spoke, Ezra's lightsaber and the Sith holocron fell to the floor.
"I... I'm sorry Hera..." Ezra cried, clearing the tears from his cheeks. "Kanan told me to tell you he is sorry he couldn't keep his promise."
"Ezra," Hera began reaching her hand out to the teenager. Hera took the fifteen-year-old into a motherly embrace. Finally breaking down, Ezra buried his face in Hera's shoulder and returned the hug as the tip of Hera's Lekku hit Ezra's hands. He looked from behind, seeing Zeb and Sabine's crestfallen look. As Hera and Ezra departed, Hera's hands remained on the boy's shoulders.
"Come we must report to Commander Sato about the mission," Hera said, would tears from her face. Ezra nodded. After their report, Ezra was going to lock himself in his and Zeb's room and hide under a rock. Ezra walked with Hera but he stopped playing get have on Sabine's shoulder.
"I'm sorry," Ezra mumbled, seeing that Sabine was silently crying her eyes out.
The older teenager did the unthinkable. She hugged Ezra in a one-armed hug and Zeb brought the two teenagers into his arms. As soon as their sibling embrace ended, Hera wrapped an arm around Ezra's shoulder and began leading him towards Chopper Base. Ahsoka and Rex remained, watching as they made their way to the command center.
"This is all my fault," Ahsoka muttered. "I'm the one who allowed Ezra to go alone with Maul and I'm the one told Kanan to go get Ezra when he attacked us. None of this would have happened if I confronted the Sith Lord alone."
"No, Ahsoka, it isn't your fault," Rex said. "If anyone is to blame, then it is Maul. From what the kid told us; it was that Sith who told him to go to the temple alone. And it was Kanan's decision to stay behind to protect you both. None of this is your fault."
Ahsoka looked up towards Rex and couldn't help but pull him into a hug, nearly similar to when they were reunited on Sato's command ship.
Now all she could do right now is give Ezra time to himself.