Chapter 2: The Island

Ahsoka Tano found! Anakin Skywalker hears the voice of his former student through the force, and races to find her on the Jedi homeworld of Tython. Desperate to reunite before Obi Wan can seize the 501st from his former student.

Anakin's starfighter glided through the sea of hyperspace as Artoo gazed out at its infinite expanse. While Anakin waited, a hologram projection played in front of him.

"Obi Wan knows!" Padme's voice nearly cracked in terror and even from the projection, Anakin could see fear overtaking his wife's beautiful face. Not many things truly frightened the Senator of Naboo, but given recent events and discoveries, that list grew ever steadily. Anakin took a deep breath and raised his hand trying to appear calmer than he really was.

"He knows something is going on between us, I doubt he knows we're married, or about the baby." Anakin's reassurance didn't do much to ease Padme's mind and she held her face like Anakin had earlier.

"I knew this would get more difficult. I just hoped we could put it off until the war ended." Anakin smiled a bit when he heard his wife's reasoning.

"Well, I did suggest you take a leave of absence until the baby was born. Stay with your parents on Naboo, let Jar Jar represent you guys in the Senate for a while." Padme smiled back for a moment but then took a long and tired sigh.

"I can't do that Anakin, not yet. Not when the war is so close to ending, peace might finally return to the galaxy. Then there's Palpatine."

Anakin paused for a moment when he heard that name. Since he was a boy, Anakin had grew well acquainted with the Chancellor. Palpatine had always seemed like a good man to Anakin, someone willing to push past bureaucracy and inefficient system so that he could achieve what was right. Of course, Anakin knew many had reservations about him, including several Jedi.

"What about Palpatine?" Padme took another deep breath.

"There are some who are afraid he's accumulated too much power. No chancellor in the history of the Republic has wielded as much as him."

Anakin didn't care much for politics, but being married to a senator, particularly one like Padme, kept him informed. Nor was she wrong either, Anakin always enjoyed reading about the old Sith Wars. The Jedi Civil War, the New Sith Wars, the Great Galactic War, the Second Great Galactic War. Yet even in those immense conflicts, the chancellor hadn't controlled as much as Palpatine did. His complete command of the military, banks, and the fact that elections for the office of chancellor had been suspended until the war was over.

"The worst part is, this opposition isn't coming from my rivals, it's coming from my allies. Bail Organa, Mon Monthma, Garm Bel Iblis, all of them are pushing for a new election."

"What do you think?" Padme looked conflicted, more so than Anakin usually saw her.

"I've known Palpatine my whole life, even before I was queen. I know he has a good heart and wants to help the Republic. I also can't deny him having this power has avoided the bureaucracy that's plagued the Republic for so long. But I can't deny, they may have a point." She took another long and meaningful breath.

"Anakin, I just want this war to be over already." Anakin shared in her lament and caressed the hologram for a moment.

"So do I, but we're close. I can feel it." Despite Anakin's words, Padme didn't appear any more eased.

"What about Obi Wan's threat?"

Anakin's face hardened into steel.

"I won't let that happen." Moments later Artoo chirped with excitement.

"Looks like we're here." With that Padme smiled again and gave her husband some newfound warmth.

"You'll find Ahsoka, I know you will." The transmission cut off, and Anakin at last saw Tython. A vast ocean covered the planet, with a series of green continents scattered across the surface. Anakin lost himself for a moment, as he could feel the sheer power and impact of the force even from orbit. Artoo snapped Anakin out of his trance with a series of chirps.

"She's down there alright, buddy, and we're going to find her." Anakin reached out with the force and tried to find Ahsoka, but the force's sheer presence around Tython made this quite difficult. Still, Anakin wouldn't give up and continued to reach out for her.

"Come on, Ahsoka, I know you're there." After an hour of searching, Anakin finally sensed her presence.

"Found you, let's go Artoo!" Anakin brought his ship into Tython's atmosphere and at last, saw the great ocean before him. Cresting waves smashing into the surface and great sea beasts hidden beneath.

Anakin, however, shifted his attention to an island just ahead. The island rose up almost like a cylindrical tower of rock and vegetation. Along the island exterior, Anakin could see a series of stone staircases moving around and to different levels. At last, he saw the great stone ruins atop the island clearing.

"Set us down, Artoo." The Jedi Starfighter carefully landed on a grassy section of the clearing. When Anakin first set foot on this island, he felt the overwhelming power of the force enrapture him. Across the planet, he could see darkness, death, and suffering from nature itself, which made room for more life to come and take its place. There was a harmony, a balance, the force was in perfect balance here. To Anakin it felt right, that this was how the force was meant to be.

Artoo's beeping drew Anakin's attention to the ruins which lay before him. A structure of stone almost seemed to grow out of the island itself. Even in its ancient and weathered state, the temple showed similar architecture as the one on Coruscant. Anakin wondered what great history and wisdom lay in that temple, wisdom the Jedi had long since forgotten.

"Took you long, enough to find me." The sarcastic and lively voice of his former student filled him with such immeasurable joy, Anakin felt ready to soar. He furiously looked around until at last he saw her. Ashoka sat upon a rock just above Anakin.

"Ahsoka!" The young-togruta women leaped down and into her master's arms. There they remained in a warm embrace for what felt like hours. Artoo shook himself and chirped with glee. When Anakin finally let Ahsoka go, he saw how she'd changed. It was hard to describe, but somehow Ahsoka looked more alive, or free rather, as if her true being was displayed. Similarly, he sensed that her force aura matched Tython's. The dark side existed within his former student, but it balanced out perfectly with the light. Whatever had happened to Ahsoka, it became clear, she'd abandoned the teachings of the Jedi, but not Anakin's teachings. Most notably, he noticed a pair of lightsabers on her belt.

"Ahsoka, you-"

"Seem different." She finished with a growing smile, particularly when she saw the sheepish expression on Anakin's face.

"Are you well?"

"I am, in fact, I'm better than I've been in years. Not that you were holding me back, master."

Anakin chuckled for a moment and sat down against his ship.

"I don't know if you can even call me that anymore."

"You'll always be my master." Ahsoka sat beside him and stroked Artoo's head.

"How's Rex, and the others?"

"Rex is doing well, Echo's alive as well." Ahsoka jumped and saw the truth in Anakin's eyes.

"He is! That's great! What happened?!" Anakin recounted the rescue in Skako Minor and their victory on Anaxes. He also, however, informed her of Five's passing, as well as Tup's.

"So much has happened, I've been away for so long."

"Not that long." Anakin chuckled, however, he could sense the aura inside Ahsoka felt distant as if she had been away for years. It was perplexing.

"Ahsoka, what happened after you left?"

The togruta took a deep breath and looked out at the ocean.

"I moved around for a bit. Fought against spice dealers, slavers, but none of it felt right." Ahsoka saw Anakin's pain and guilt consume his very being, inside and outside.

"Ahsoka, I'm sorry I couldn't protect you, what happened to you was unjust and-"

"Anakin." She quickly interrupted and took his hand.

"What happened wasn't your fault." Much to Ahsoka's horror, she saw rage and fury grow in Anakin's eyes as he stood up.

"You're right, it was the council's fault. They took you away from me, just like they want to take Rex and the 501st." Ahsoka's eyes widened and she felt her heart beat faster like a speeder.

"What?!"

"Obi Wan doesn't trust me, he thinks I was too attached to you, to the men. He's going to put the 501st under someone who'll butcher them for a victory! I won't let that happen, and I won't lose you again, not to Obi Wan! Not to the council! Not to-"

"Anakin!" Ahsoka jumped to her feet and took his hands. When Anakin saw the fear and compassion in her eyes. Her mere touch was enough to calm the Jedi down and slow his breathing.

"Master, I was afraid of that."

"Afraid of what?"

"Afraid for you. Anakin, I've always tried to deny it, but things have been made clear to me now. I told you to come here for a reason." Anakin breathed slower and tightened his fist.

"I came here to bring you home."

"I called you here to save you from the dark side!" The same frustration Anakin had endured with Obi Wan now returned as he grit his teeth.

"Not you too!"

"Master, you've always struggled with emotions, I know because I did too! Both of us were always at great risk of falling to the dark side! You've resisted it for as long as you could, but I can sense your strength failing." Ahsoka's soft hand rested on Anakin's cheek and at last calmed his temper as a tear came down her cheek.

"If you continue down this path, you will fall, and I can't lose you." Anakin closed his eyes and walked towards the cliffs, Artoo slowly beeping.

"I can't help it Ahsoka, I always grow attached to those I care about. My whole life I've been told I was destined to become a great Jedi, that there was a prophecy behind me. That's not an easy thing to live up too. I tried so hard, but Obi Wan only ever seemed upset by my efforts. Everyone expects me to just swallow my feelings and become something I'm not, but maybe that's it." With tears in his eyes, Anakin stared at his lightsaber.

"Maybe I never was meant to be a Jedi." Ahsoka's hand rested on Anakins and she slowly smiled back at him.

"No, you were meant to be so much more. Jedi, Sith, Light, Dark. Everyone assumes there's no middle ground. But there is, balance, true balance between the light and the dark side. I've found that balance." Ahsoka's force aura now became clear. Anakin smiled as he watched her ignite two silver lightsabers.

"That's it then, you've become the first Gray Jedi in centuries."

"I'm more than that. I'm a Je'daii, a master of the force itself and balance. It's what you were meant to become, not a Jedi, but a master of balance." Anakin thought hard about not only the prophecy, but Mortis. The Father asked him to take his place as the balance. His entire life he'd struggled with the dark side, but perhaps his problem was not understanding it.

"Yes." Anakin said as he stood up tall.

"This is what I was always meant to be. I'm not a Jedi, I'm something the Jedi were always meant to be. The light, the dark, balance." Anakin hugged Ahsoka again and lifted her up.

"Come on Ahsoka, let's get back to the Resolute, looks like I'm the student now." Artoo chirped full of enthusiasm. However, both were shocked to see Ahsoka shake her head.

"We can't leave master."

"There's no time for this, Ahsoka. Dooku and Grievous."

"Are after the Star Forge, I know." Anakin's eyes widened for a moment.

"How did you know that?"

"My new master told me. He knows everything that happens in the galaxy."

"New master?"

"I didn't learn the ways of balance on my own. My new master called me here, and trained me."

"Ahsoka you haven't been gone that long." A weary smile returned to her face.

"I've been gone longer than you think, master. What I'm saying is my new master is the one who has to train you. No one is more balanced than him."

Anakin took a deep breath and crossed his arms.

"Alright fine, where is he, we'll bring him along too."

"He can't leave Tython. You must meet him tonight."

"Why tonight?"

"He lives on an island that only appears during the lunar eclipse."

"...This just keeps getting better and better." The three spent the next few hours resting and catching up, until at last, night fell and Ahsoka took Anakin to a speeder she had on the cliffside. From there, she flew them out into the middle of the ocean and stopped, with only the moon providing light now. Anakin grew impatient, but Ahsoka kept him calm. Finally, the lunar eclipse began and Anakin saw the sky turn to a deep blue. Almost out of thin air, an island identical to the one he landed on appeared below them.

"Master, welcome to the island." She set down on a clearing near the top. Anakin almost immediately became overwhelmed by the force's sheer presence. It felt quite similar to Mortis, not only from its power, but the face that everything was perfectly balanced. Light, dark, everything felt right.

"Alright, where is your master?" Ahsoka didn't get out of the speeder and pointed to the staircase in front of him.

"He'll want to see you alone."

"Who is he?" Ahsoka continued to smile.

"They're the master, that's all you need to know."

"Great." Anakin sighed before walking up the staircase. Ahsoka took a deep breath while stroking Artoo again.

"He's in the master's hand now. Only he can save Anakin."

Anakin carefully looked around at the island itself. Vegetation grew throughout the rocks, but remained in check. However, unlike Mortis, where things constantly seemed to be in shift. Here, they remained continuous, but not changing radically. For a moment, Anakin wondered how he ended up in this situation, considering he came to find Ahsoka, now he was abandoning the order he'd known since childhood. It was all happening too fast, and more than once, he considered turning back.

Yet something drove him forward. A presence around Anakin that seemed to be watching him and perhaps guiding him, until at last he reached a cave entrance. The presence felt stronger around this cave and continued to draw Anakin towards it.

"Statement: Another student has arrived". Anakin drew his lightsaber and furiously looked around for the source of the mechanical voice. Eventually, he found it, a tall and humanoid droid appeared in front of the cave. The droid's armor was blacker than a droid commando's and its eyes glowed red. Overall, the design seemed almost ancient, but still fresh of the line somehow.

"Who are you!?"

"Statement: I am HK-X, the greatest assassin droid the galaxy has ever known. Commentary: However, now I am but the Guardian of this island and loyal servant of the master."

Anakin slowly lowered his lightsaber, but remained just as cautious.

"So who is your master?"

"Statement: Master is he who balances the force and guides it"

Anakin held the bridge of his nose in frustration.

"Great, more cryptic answers."

"Commentary: You may be the one, student Tano was to bring. Question: Are you indeed the one called Skywalker?"

"Yes."

"Statement: The master is waiting for you inside. Commentary: Be weary, you may not like what he shows you, but it is necessary for you to become what you were meant to be."

Anakin nodded and tried to get past, but HK-X remained in his way. Before Anakin could ask, the droid simply pointed to his lightsaber.

"This weapon is your life." Anakin growled before reluctantly handing it over. The cave remained lit in the same blue light somehow. Each step Anakin took brought him closer to the presence and it soon felt as if someone was truly beside him. Finally, Anakin reached the end of the cave and saw a strange mural blocking his path.

The mural looked ancient and beautifully made. Vibrant colors and master artistry brought the figures to life. However, Anakin felt his breath drop when he finally saw the figures. This mural depicted none other than the Father, Sister, and Son. The Ones from Mortis. He remembered watching them each die, yet somehow through this mural, it almost felt as if they were before him again. He felt their aura, though it seemed different.

Anakin stared at the mural for several minutes, wondering what it meant and how to proceed. That was until he saw, each held one of their hands to their side. Intrigued, Anakin slowly placed his hand on the daughter's.

"The Light." Anakin channeled the power of the lightside and saw her mural illuminate while the hand rose up. Anakin then went to the son and did the same, this time, channeling the dark side.

"The Dark." The son's mural now glowed and brought its hand up. With this, the father, at last, lit up and rose his hands. Anakin backed up when he felt the mural shift and slowly rise up. Now with his path clear, Anakin continued. There, he felt the dark side's chilling presence grow. Anakin grew cautious with each step and missed the balance which preceded. Finally, he saw a dead end with something before it. A black mass grew around a hole, and from it, the dark side spread like a harsh wind.

"No, this isn't right. This isn't balance." Anakin backed up until he heard a familiar voice.

"Anakin!" Anakin seized up when he realized whose voice it was.

"Padme!" Anakin peered down the hole, but as he did, an unseen force dragged him inside. He didn't have time to scream either, for the fall instantaneously dropped Anakin into a frigid pool of water. Anakin came up gasping for breath and thrashed around. The presence of the dark side chilling him more than even the water.

"Padme!" Anakin continued to shout as he searched for her, but saw nothing. He finally climbed onto a rocky shore and looked up, only to see the hole which brought him there was gone, if it had ever been there at all.

The cold became so unbearable that Anakin began to shiver.

"Anakin, stop!" His head sprung up again upon hearing Padme's voice, this time in pain and fear.

"Padme, where are you!?" Ignoring the cold, Anakin sprinted through the cave but couldn't find anything.

"Padme!" Anakin's fear and desperation grew with each passing moment until at last he saw her. Padme held her throat while being lifted in the air by a hooded figure.

"No!" Anakin reached for his lightsaber but then cursed himself for giving it to HK-X. Instead he dashed forward and tried to strike the figure with a blow of force power. However, the figure thrust his other hand at Anakin and held him in place, unable to move.

"No! Padme!" Fear and anguish filled his wife's eyes while her face went pale.

"Anakin, please!" She said in more sorrow than fear.

"Let her go! I'll kill you!" Anakin roared with all of his passion. Yet even with the full power of the force, Anakin could do nothing, until finally, Padme went still and collapsed upon the floor.

"No!" Anakin fell to his knees and endured a crippling pain that even losing his arm couldn't match. The figure who killed Padme turned to face Anakin, who rose up in a fury of hate.

"You're going to die-" Anakin went silent and backed up with a pale expression. For as the figure drew back his hood, Anakin saw his own face. Or rather what would have been his face. His eyes had gone yellow, and an aura of darkness fell upon his very being. One that Anakin knew, but hadn't experienced so profoundly. The darkness Anakin always felt inside him, not unleashed uncontrollably.

The dark Anakin lifted him up and began choking him as well. All the while another hooded figure stood over the dark anakin. This figure held his hands over him as if he were a puppet master and laughed maniacally.

Anakin tried to close his eyes, he tried to look away, but he couldn't escape, he remained trapped with the grip of his own darkness.

"You cannot escape it. You cannot hide from yourself." Another voice said. This wasn't his own or the puppet master's, but instead one of pure darkness.

Anakin saw something else in the chamber. A black dragon slowly gilded around while watching Anakin closely.

"You cannot escape from the darkness! Should it consume you, see what you will become!" Anakin cried out as he saw his dark-self catch on fire. The flames surged over the dark image but Anakin could feel its terrible pain. When the flames finally vanished, something else took their place. A slow, mechanical breathing. As the dark Anakin looked up, Anakin saw he was now covered entirely in cold-mechanical, and black armor. Even his face was covered by a mask of fear and lament.

"You cannot escape me!" The mechanical voice of his dark half sent more chills down Anakin's spine than all the darkness which came before. At last, Anakin dropped down but heard the laughing continue. Before Anakin could collect himself, he saw the dragon swoop down and attempt to land. Yet before it could, the beast transformed itself into a man.

This figure was slightly shorter than Anakin, wearing strange black and red armored robes with a black hood, and a red and black mask which covered his face. Along with armored gauntlets and a cape, no part of the man's body could be seen.

"Who, who are you?" Anakin trembled as he spoke.

"I am passion, I am justice, I am that which destroys, and makes room for life to grow."

"Are, are you the master?"

"I am what you must see, Anakin Skywalker. What your passions and attachments will drive you your ultimate fate, should the dark side take you."

In that moment, Anakin felt ready to crumble. Obi Wan was right, fearing for Padme's death gave him fear, anger, and hatred. In the end, it was he who killed her. Anakin curled up wallowed in his lament. After what felt like an eternity passed, he heard another voice.

"Father! Father, where are you!" The soft and innocent voice brought Anakin up and he saw the cold-dark cave had vanished. Now he sat in a lush meadow atop the island, a bright sky and vibrant vegetation bloomed around him. Flying above the meadow was a white variant of the black dragon who similarly stared down at Anakin.

"Father!" Anakin carefully followed the voice until he saw him. A boy, perhap nine-years old in a poor white-tunic wandered around the meadow aimlessly. He had fair skin, dirty-blonde hair, and blue eyes.

Recognizing it may have been another illusion made by the force, Anakin realized the boy looked very much like he did as a child. However, upon coming closer, Anakin discovered the boy wasn't him as a child, he looked slightly different, though his similarities couldn't be denied.

"Father, where are you!" The boy continued to cry, until Anakin got in front of him.

"Have you seen my father?"

"Who are you?" The boy didn't answer.

"I can't find my father, but I know he's out there somewhere. I want to find him, and be just like him!" The boy walked to the island's edge and gazed out at the horizon, particularly the rising sun.

"I'll find him one day, and finally leave this place." Anakin couldn't describe it, but the boy's aura seemed to cry out towards him. Anakin considered what the boy might represent when the mechanical breathing returned. Anakin watched in terror as his dark self appeared and walked towards the frightened boy.

"No, wait!" Anakin tried to get between the boy and his dark self, but he was held back by the force. Now helpless, Anakin could only watch as his dark self came closer and closer to the boy.

"Father! Father!" The boy wailed out but to no answer, Anakin's dark self seized the frightened boy with tears in his eyes.

"You belong to the dark side now."

"No!" Anakin thrashed about yet could still do nothing.

"Your hate cannot save him." Another voice said. Anakin looked up and saw the white dragon transform just as the black one had. The figure who emerged also looked identical, however, his armor was white and blue rather than black and red. His voice also carried a soothing peace and understanding to it. Each word felt like sunlight and life itself.

"Please, you have to save him!" The light figure remained still and shook his head.

"I cannot save him, only you can, Anakin."

Anakin watched with growing horror as his dark self brought the boy to his puppet master. The figure's sinister laugh grew louder.. Anakin channeled everything he had, but nothing could break him free. Now the boy sobbed as the figure surged with force lightning and prepared to destroy the child with it.

"Father please!"

At that moment, Anakin abandoned his hatred, rage, fear, and anger. He instead acted off passion yet with peace. He focused on nothing, but saving the boy. With that, he at last broke free and dashed at the dark figures.

At the last moment, Anakin unleashed a wave of force power that blew apart his dark self and the puppet master into nothing. The boy fell into Anakin's arms who cradled him with tears in his eyes.

"It's ok, you're safe." Anakin's eyes met the boy's and he could finally see him for who he was.

"Father, you found me!" With that, the boy faded into the sunlight, yet Anakin did not lament, for he knew the boy wasn't truly gone.

The figure of light slowly approached Anakin and stood over him.

"You saved him, and yourself."

Anakin wiped away another tear and smiled back at the figure.

"Who are you?"

"I am peace, wisdom, life, and understanding."

"You're the light, and he was the dark." The figure nodded as everything around them changed. Anakin saw himself on the island's peak, with a temple. This structure's architecture resembled the palace on Mortis. The light and darkness came to perfect balance here, and Anakin felt the beauty of it.

The light figure slowly walked to the temple and looked back at Anakin.

"You're the master, but who, what are you?"

"I am Light" The figure morphed into his dark robes.

" I am Darkness" Finally the figure morphed again, only this time his armored robes and mask turned grey instead of black.

"I am the balance between life and death. The Light side and the Dark." Finally, he reached up, removed his mask, and lowered his hood. The being was a human, with fair skin, shoulder-length dark-brown hair, dark brown eyes, and a light goatee with the markings of his mask embedded around his face.

"I am Revan."

Anakin couldn't respond. He stood in place for almost a minute as Revan patiently waited.

"Revan! You, he, that's impossible! You died thousands of years ago!". Revan raised his hands and used the force to project three figures around Anakin.

"When the force began, it was wild, untamed, unguided. When the first force users discovered their abilities here on Tython, three were chosen as its guide. A father, a son, and a daughter." Anakin saw the force welders projected before him perfectly.

"They were taken to the world of Mortis and each guided a part of the force. The Light, the Dark, and the Balance. Until conflict arose between them, which led to their demise. But you know this, Anakin. You were there."

Anakin tried to wrap his head around what was happening. Revan, a Jedi legend, was not only alive, but stood before him.

"The father wanted me to replace him."

"Indeed, he sought out the prophecy, of one who would bring balance to the force. But you rejected him, so the force needed a new guide. Instead of three beings, it chose one, one who mastered the dark side and the light. One who mastered the force in balance, me." Revan's words held a great weight to them. It was clear he took this responsibility with a great deal of responsibility and humility. Anakin could see it in his eyes.

"But, the Ones died a year ago. You died four-millennia ago!" Revan shook his head.

"Time means nothing to the force. Do you not recall how no time passed when you escaped Mortis." Anakin realized he was right. They'd been on Mortis for days but came back at the exact moment they left.

"When the father died, and you refused to take his place, the force went back to the exact moment I should have died and brought me here. Now I have the responsibility of guiding the force and keeping it in balance."

Anakin trembled until Revan approached and held his shoulder. Revan's boundless wisdom flowed through his face, though it didn't appear aged like the Father had. Instead Revan looked as he had in his prime.

"I can sense the conflict inside you, Anakin. You struggle between the darkness and the light. You cannot give up your attachments. Those you love." Anakin felt another tear roll down his cheek, but Revan grabbed his other shoulder.

"Passion can be controlled, and attachments can be used to drive you is the truth Anakin, a truth I can teach you. You can love others and still hold the dark side in check."

"I, I can?"

Revan smiled back and nodded.

"My love for another saved her from the dark side. I wielded the darkness without being consumed by it. Passion is the spark, but peace is controlling it. Use your emotions but have the serenity to keep them in check. This is balance, balance I can teach you." Anakin stood firmer and tightened his fist.

"Darkness is rising, I can feel it." Revan mirrored his expression.

"Indeed, I've felt it as well. The dark and light side battle each other, and the dark side will soon triumph. But you can stop it, you can restore balance and lead the Jedi back to where they were always meant to be." Revan took a deep breath and looked back at the temple.

"I had hoped that destiny would be mine. But it never was, this task falls upon you, Anakin. It's why I told Ahsoka to bring you here."

Anakin fell to one knee and bowed his head.

"I'm ready to learn." Revan nodded.

"I hope so. We'll be here for many years I assume, this training is no easier than a Jedi's trials. Luckily I won't be teaching you alone." Anakin heard more footsteps and saw another figure approach. This one appeared to be a woman, a few years younger than Revan. She had fair skin, silver eyes, dark-brown hair that went past her cheeks on the sides and came up in a ponytail behind her. This woman was beautiful by any means, and wore a yellowish-orange outfit that almost resembled a flight suit, if anything.

"Another student, my love." She said in a warm voice before wrapping her arms around Revan's right arm.

"This is Bastila, my wife."

"Bastila." Anakin remembered that name well from the stories.

"Alright, I know she died." Bastila chuckled and kissed Revan's cheek.

"When we die, we become one with the force. When the force brought me here, I asked for one thing in return." Bastila reached out and touched Anakin's shoulder.

"Outside this island I may be one with the force, but here, I'm very much alive again." The way Bastila spoke and how she then passionately kissed Revan across his lips made Anakin understand what she meant, in every way.

"Well, I suppose if you had to stay here for an eternity." Anakin joked as Revan and Bastila blushed slightly. Bastila giggled while Revan looked back at Anakin sternly.

"Enough of that, we have training to do." Anakin took a deep breath and prepared himself. It had been many years since he formally trained, but not, he felt ready to start over, the right way.

Anakin knelt before Revan and Bastila. He held his hand out over a series of lightsaber components, a blue kyber crystal, and a black crystal. Drawing on serenity and passion, Anakin guided the pieces together until they began to form a new lightsaber.

"There is no dark side, nor a light side. There is only the force. I will do what I must to keep the balance. There is no good without evil, but evil must not be allowed to flourish. There is passion, yet peace. There is serenity, yet emotion. There is chaos, yet order. This is my destiny." When Anakin finished, the lightsaber was completed.

"Rise, Anakin Skywalker, Gray Jedi Knight. Je'daii master!" Opening his eyes, the Je'daii rose up and ignited his new lightsaber. The blade came out black, with a blue aura around it, while being shaped more like a traditional sword.

Bastila and Revan smiled like proud parents. Both bowed back to Anakin in great respect.

"We've taught you all we can. The rest is up to you now."

"Thank you, both of you, for everything." Bastila nodded.

"Statement: I have prepared everything you'll need. Commentary: Savor any victory you achieve" HK-X handed Anakin a datapad before he bowed to Revan and Bastila again.

"May the force be with you." Anakin lamented departure, but knew it was time. He was ready to see Ahoska and the others again.

"Anakin, wait. There's one more thing." Revan handed Anakin two more items, much to his shock.

"Revan, I don't know what to say, are you sure." The Master nodded and Anakin eagerly took the items.

"I'll strive to be worthy."

"Yes, you shall." Bastila added. When Anakin left, she rested her head on Revan's shoulder.

"He reminds me of Vaner. Sometimes I wish I let him become a Jedi." Revan smiled.

"If you had, Anakin wouldn't be here."

"That's true."

Back at the speeder, Ahsoka finished stroking Artoo when she heard him chirp in excitement. Ahsoka smiled with similar joy and enthusiasm when she saw Anakin emerge from the staircase. He looked no older physically, but inside, Ahsoka could feel years of wisdom and experience.

But most of all, his aura had changed. The dark side was still there, only now it lived in perfect harmony with the light. Anakin had found his balance. Aside from that, Anakin now sported a goatee similar to Revans. He had a new lightsaber. But most impressive of all, he wore Revan's iconic and legendary armored robes. The gray cape flowed with the gentle wind and seeing Anakin in the robes with his new goatee, Ahsoka almost laughed as she realized he almost looked like Revan himself.

"I see it went well. How long were you in there?"

"Five years."

"Just five, impressive, I was in there for ten." Anakin embraced Ahsoka again before doing the same to Artoo.

"Are you ready to go home?" Ahsoka nearly went to tears.

"Yes, I'm ready."

Onboard the Resolute, Rex had received the message from Anakin that he'd found Ahsoka and was on his way. In preparation, Rex assembled the entire 501st information with a surprise for Ahsoka. Even Delta Squad joined in with the 501st members and came to attention when they saw two Jedi starfighters land.

Rex smiled and tried to remain calm as he approached the a deep breath, Rex readied himself to see Ahsoka again. However, Anakin caught his attention first. Rex saw his General with a new lightsaber, a new outfit, and a goatee.

"Rex, it's good to see you again." The way Anakin spoke, it almost sounded if he was gone longer than he was.

"Sir, what happened? When did you grow a beard, you've been gone less than a day?" Anakin smiled back at Artoo for a moment.

"It's a long story."

"And an interesting one." Rex's eye shot to Ahsoka as she finally came into view.

"Commander Tano."

"Captain." Rex tried to come to attention, but Ahsoka cut him off with a strong hug. Rex couldn't hold himself back anymore and returned the hug.

"It's good to have you back, Ahsoka."

"It's good to be back. I've missed you all."

"And we've missed you." Rex moved aside and revealed how the 501st greeted her return. Every clone had spray-painted

orange on their helmets.

"501st, present arms!" In unison, every clone, including Delta Squad saluted Ahsoka. The gray Jedi became overwhelmed and nearly lost herself to tears.

"Men, I'm sorry I left you. I wish things could have gone differently, but things happened for a reason. I'm back, and this time I'll never leave my men again!"

"Huah!" The clones echoed back. During her speech, Anakin spoke to Rex alone, handing him the datapad and explaining the full situation. Rex took a deep breath but nodded back without hesitation. Anakin now came up beside Ahsoka and addressed his legion.

"501st, our situation has changed. As of now, our mission is to stop the Separatists from acquiring the Star Forge! I won't lie to you, this will be the fight of our lives, and we won't have any Republic reinforcements. However, I promise you we won't fight alone, and that if Dooku succeeds, it will be the end of the Republic! With that said, I won't compel any of you to follow us. Any man who wants to follow the council's orders can leave now."

Every clone remained in their place. Delta Squad looked at each other for a moment but then went back to attention.

"This will be interesting at least." 38 said to himself.

"Alright, we head to Rakata Prime! For the Republic!"

"For the Republic!"

Author's note

Yep, Revan, this isn't part of the real canon, and I mean real canon(aka the expanded universe) not the Mickey mouse corporate fiction(not fanfiction because that would insinuate fans made it)

Think of this as the earth 2 of the star wars universe.

Some of you thought Obi Wan got too cold in last chapter, and I'll admit I can see your point. I had him act in a way that I felt reflected the problem with the Jedi Order at the time of its fall. They'd grown so detached that many grew cold and distant, unable to see what was really happening. He also said those things out of concern that Anakin was close to falling to the dark side (which he was)

So until next time,

please review, comment, suggest, or ask(VIA PM)