Part 1:
"Yes, master," Ahsoka sighed over her comlink. Ahsoka, the seventeen-year-old padawan learner of Anakin Skywalker, was just ordered to provide security at a ball. And not just any ball. A ball for senators and royalty of the Republic Alliance! Ahsoka tried to reason with her master that her intervention wasn't necessary, but he had insisted.
Guess I better go and change into something suitable, Ahsoka thought to herself. She wouldn't want to be conspicuous. The whole point of this ordeal was for her to blend in in case of trouble.
When Ahsoka arrived at her quarters, she immediately shut her door, and walked to her closet. The only other outfit in there was her night set of plain leggings and a loose-fitting top. Ahsoka sighed. She had absolutely nothing to wear.
Suddenly, there was a knock at her door. Ahsoka opened the door to reveal nobody else but Senator Padme Amidala.
"Ahsoka!" Padme exclaimed. "Anakin, I mean Master Skywalker, told me you were going to the Republic Ball tonight."
"He told you the truth. I'm just security. But I'm supposed to blend in and I have absolutely nothing to wear."
"I can help. You and I look about the same size. You can borrow one of my smaller dresses, since you're a bit shorter than I am."
"Thanks, Padme. You're a life-saver!"
"I do my best. Come on!" Padme beckoned Ahsoka. Ahsoka followed Padme to her quarters and was taken aback by the walk-in closet right by the door. It was filled with the prettiest, most expensive dresses! Ahsoka just hoped that she wouldn't have to wear a dress that was ten pounds.
Padme fished around in there until she seemed to have found something. She pulled a hanger off the rack, and on the hanger was a beautiful, simple gown.
The color was a deep crimson, and there seemed to be only one layer of cloth. It couldn't have weighed more than half a pound! The bodice of the dress was tight, until the waist where it flowed simply like a waterfall of red. The dress was a halterneck, and was therefore sleeveless.
"Try it on!" Padme insisted.
Ahsoka hurried into the bathroom to change, and when she looked at herself in the full-length mirror, was taken aback. Ahsoka had to admit she didn't look bad.
The togruta left to seek Padme's approval.
"You look gorgeous!" Padme sighed. "If only I could look that beautiful in crimson!"
"You look wonderful in crimson, Padme."
"I'm wearing a blue gown tonight."
"And you'll look gorgeous in that, too."
Padme smiled. "Thanks, Ahsoka. Now go ahead and find your master. It's time you should be leaving for the ball. I'm not coming until later."
"One more thing. Will there be anyone there besides you that I know?"
"Yes. A certain senator of Onderon will be there." Padme knew how Ahsoka felt about Lux Bonteri. It was hard to miss.
"Lux will be there?" Ahsoka's features lit up with joy.
"Yes."
"Thank you again, Padme!" Ahsoka waved and walked as fast as she could with her dress on.
Lux Bonteri! Ahsoka hadn't seen him in months! Not since Steela's funeral. Ahsoka stopped in the middle of the hallway. Steela. Ahsoka still blamed herself for Steela's death. She was stopped by a stupid piece of machinery! A wave of anger washed over Ahsoka. She'd never forgive herself for what happened to Steela. Would Lux hate her? After all, he had been very close to Steela. Not in a way Ahsoka had liked, but, if Lux was happy, Ahsoka had to be content.
Ahsoka shrugged the thoughts aside. The past is past, and there's nothing I can do about it now, she thought.
Ahsoka arrived at the main hangar. Her master, Anakin Skywalker, was waiting for her there.
"Ready, Snips?"
"As ready as I'll ever be, Skyguy."
"Where did you get the dress?"
"Senator Amidala let me borrow it."
"That explains it! Why would you own a dress?" Anakin chuckled.
"Hey! I can look presentable when I want to!"
Anakin merely smiled and waved as the ship took off with Ahsoka inside. But on the inside, he was secretly worried for his padawan. There would be no Jedi there to stop her from breaking the code. Of course, Anakin broke the code himself, but Ahsoka was young. Anakin didn't want his padawan to go through that.
Meanwhile, Ahsoka waited impatiently on the transport until it landed on the planet Alderaan, where the ball was being hosted in the palace. Alderaan was so different from Coruscant. But Alderaan's grassy plains reminded Ahsoka of her own home planet of Shili. Of course, Ahsoka hadn't been to Shili since she was three, when she was found by Master Plo, but she still had some distinct memories of her home.
The ramp descended at the landing platform, and Ahsoka got off and entered the palace ballroom. Hundreds of senators and royal officers were already there. Ahsoka couldn't wait to find Padme. She felt so awkward just standing alone. Ahsoka decided to move about. She eventually settled for a chair on the outskirts of the ballroom. Another girl, a green twi'lek, was sitting next to her.
"You new?" The twi'lek asked Ahsoka.
"I'm not a senator. Or royalty. I'm just here as security. But I'm supposed to blend in." Ahsoka had hidden her lightsabers on specially crafted boots. Each had a sheath-like structure that secured her sabers to the side of her boot, without attracting any attention.
"Oh. I'm a handmaiden to the senator of Ryloth. My name is Lignohu."
"Ahsoka." The togruta offered her hand to the twi'lek. Lignohu obliged.
"Where are you from, Ahsoka?'
"Coruscant."
"Don't Togruta come from planets like Shili or Kiros?"
"Well, I was born on Shili, but I moved to Coruscant when I was three."
"Where are your parents? You don't look like an adult yet."
"I'm not. I...live with my older brother."
"Oh. How old are you?"
"Seventeen. And you?"
"Nineteen."
Padme approached Ahsoka. "Ahsoka! I see you've met Lignohu."
"Padme! It's so good to see you." Lignohu shook the Senator of Naboo's hand. Padme smiled.
"Yes. Where are the other senators?" Ahsoka asked Padme.
Padme knew she was asking about Lux. "Senator Bonteri is out on the balcony."
"Thanks!" Ahsoka hurried away. She needed to see Lux. Ahsoka squeezed her way through the crowd and made her way to the balcony. Sure enough, Lux was there. He was alone, just looked out over Alderaan. Ahsoka approached. Lux sensed someone behind him and turned.
"Ahsoka!" Lux pulled Ahsoka into a tight embrace.
"Lux! It's good to see you again!" Ahsoka broke away.
"You look beautiful," Lux complimented.
"That's funny."
"I'm serious."
"No, you're Lux."
"Very funny, 'Soka." Lux rolled his eyes.
"Come on. Let's go enjoy the party."
Lux followed Ahsoka. They were offered a glass of champagne. Both obliged and sat down, drinking in the alcohol.
"What are you doing here?" Lux asked.
"Extra security."
Lux didn't reply. He simply finished his third glass of champagne. Ahsoka started on her fourth.
Ahsoka didn't know what happened after that. The only thing she was aware of was Lux dragging her into his quarters on Alderaan. Let's just say both were very intoxicated.
Lux pushed her onto his bed, and Ahsoka was more than happy to oblige. Of course, at the very back of her mind, the sober piece of her was protesting, but the drunk Ahsoka didn't care.
Lux started kissing her, really kissing her. "I love you 'Soka."
"Love you too, Lux."
The next morning:
Ahsoka woke up with a headache. She realized neither she nor Lux were dressed. And Lux passed out in bed with her.
What were they doing?
Ahsoka started panicking. She found her dress on the ground and slipped it over her shoulders. She looked back at Lux's innocent face as he was sleeping.
What the heck? Ahsoka kissed his forehead and left the room. Wouldn't he be surprised when he woke up with no clothes on!
Ahsoka hurried to the platform where her transport was waiting. It was so early, the sun hadn't even risen on Alderaan yet! Once she boarded, the pilot exited the atmosphere and made the jump to hyperspace.
Once Ahsoka arrived back on Coruscant, her master was waiting for her.
"Hey, Snips. The council wants to speak with us in five."
Ahsoka nodded and hurried to her quarters. She changed into her Jedi uniform, and then started to have a full-scale panic-attack. Her breathing came fast and shallow. How far did she and Lux go last night? They weren't even together, and, well, it happened! Ahsoka was feeling sick to her stomach. Not because of last night's scare, she had vomited on the transport this morning. There was definitely something wrong with her. She never got sick! Anakin picked her up a few minutes after.
"You okay?" Anakin noticed she was scared.
"Yeah. Just nervous, I guess."
"Why would you be nervous?"
"Something happened at the ball last night…,"
"What? Are you okay?"
Ahsoka smiled despite herself. Anakin was so overprotective. "Physically, yes. Actually, I think I'm sick."
"What makes you say that?"
"I vomited in the transport earlier." Anakin felt Ahsoka's forehead.
"You don't have a fever. Don't think we aren't talking about this later, Snips."
Ahsoka followed her master to the room where the Jedi council meeting had adjourned.
Ahsoka was in and out of the whole ordeal. Maybe it was from last night. But she was jolted out of her reverie when it was announced that there was a bombing at the temple!
"What?"
Anakin seemed shocked too. The council informed the two that they wanted an investigation. Anakin and Ahsoka would lead it.
Ahsoka was optimistic about the idea. It would distract her and Anakin about the whole...thing.
However, Ahsoka couldn't take her mind off of Lux. It seemed impossible.
Time Skip ~ Y'all know what happens in between
"Ahsoka, I am so sorry. About everything." Anakin bowed his head to his padawan. Ahsoka returned the gesture. Her stomach was feeling sick again. She hoped she didn't vomit again like she had this morning.
"You have our most humble apologies, Little 'Soka. The council was wrong to accuse you," Plo Koon continued.
"You have shown such great strength and resilience in your struggle to prove your innocence," Saesee Tiin explained.
"This is the true sign of a Jedi Knight," Ki-Adi-Mundi complimented.
"This was actually your great trial. Now we see that. We understand that the Force works in mysterious ways, and because of this trial, you have become a greater Jedi than you would have otherwise." Mace Windu sounded confident in his observation, however, Ahsoka was skeptical.
"Back into the order, you may come," Yoda's expression was indifferent, yet welcoming.
Anakin stepped forward. "They're asking you back, Ahsoka. I'm asking you back." Anakin held out her beads that signified her as a padawan. Ahsoka looked into her former master's eyes. A nearly irresistible offer. But she remembered how the council had abandoned her in her most desperate hour. And now they were asking for her to come back? Ahsoka didn't blame Anakin. He was the only one who didn't abandon her. She took his hands, and closed them over the beads. She shook her head, tears forming in her eyes.
"I'm sorry master. But I'm not coming back." Ahsoka turned and left, not looking back to see the expression on Anakin's face. It would only make her feel worse.
When she was out in the courtyard, she heard Anakin coming after her. "Ahsoka, wait!"
When Ahsoka didn't stop, he tried again. "Ahsoka! I need to talk to you!" Ahsoka stopped and let her master catch up.
"Why are you doing this?" Anakin asked, pain in his eyes.
"The council didn't trust me. So how can I trust myself?" Ahsoka turned away.
"What about me?" Anakin insisted. "I believed in you! I stood by you!"
"I know you believe in me, Anakin. And I'm grateful for that. But this isn't about you. I can't stay here any longer, not now." It hurt Ahsoka to tell the truth.
"The Jedi Order is your life! You can't just throw it away like this! Ahsoka, you are making a mistake!"
"Maybe. But I have to sort this out on my own. Without the council," Ahsoka choked on her next words, "and without you."
"I understand, more than you realize. I understand wanting to walk away from the order."
Ahsoka thought of Anakin and Padme. "I know."
That was when Ahsoka left. Tears were falling down her face.
She didn't look back.
Okay so basically I decided to start a Luxsoka fanfic because I'm obsessed. And yes, I am being completely irresponsible because I'm currently writing three stories at one time right now, but that's fine.
I got a message a while back criticizing my work so I'm just gonna let criticizers know that I'm open to suggestions, but not complete criticisms. And so if you choose to trash talk me and my stories (I'm not saying you would, I'm just giving a warning), I'm not the type to just let it go or stop writing. I'm just going to get in your face. So if you're going to trash talk about me OR my stories, you better watch it.
I know a lot of you are positive and supportive, and I thank you for that. It means a lot to me.
Hope you like, and please review because I'm slightly paranoid.
~ArchingRebel