Sitting outside the Chamber of Judgement, Ahsoka figured this would be her chance to giver side of everything that had happened. Anakin constantly pacing as he seemed lost in thought
"There's a good chance this won't go in your favor." he spoke up finally "So i'm a little on edge why aren't you?"
"I'm just better at hiding it." she joked, trying to lighten the mood
"I'm sorry, Snips, I just don't know what to do."
"It's okay." she agreed "I don't either."
"You were alone with Letta Turmond when she died. Can you explain this?"
"Someone used the Force against her."
Anakin kept focused on Ahsoka's answers
"Can you explain your association with Ventress?" Plo Koon questioned
"I thought she was helping me."
"The question is Padawan Tano who is decieving us? you, Ventress or someone else?" Mace Windu interjected
"I am not deceiving you. I would assume Ventress is...My sense is clouded."
"Dangerously clouded these things are not just surrounding you. Surrounding many things." Yoda's tone seemed almost taunting as Anakin grew annoyed
"You've already made your decision haven't you?"
Mace Windu having to be the one to do it "It is the Council's decision that Padawan Tano has committed sedition against the Republic. And thus she will be expelled from the Jedi Order."
Whatever else they'd said to her seemed muffled, she could pinpoint Anakin blowing up and claiming it was unfair as her braid had been ripped off her Montral
She was no longer a Jedi in their eyes
As Anakin decided to search for answers, Padme decided to help Ahsoka plan her testimony
"It seems like everyone except Anakin has abandoned me."
"One good thing about him is that he tends to always have the will to jump." Padme hoped it would get Ahsoka out of her cloud
Ahsoka smiled at the sentiment "Always in time to save lives."
"It's one of the reasons I fell in love with him." Padme's thoughts spilling out before she can take them back
"How could you not?" Ahsoka wasn't stupid, she could put a few intimate moments between them and figure out he and Padme were much closer than she originally thought
The few missions she'd joined alongside the both of them, the way Anakin looked at Padme and was always overprotective of her, always willing to stick his neck out for her sake
The realization and weight of what she'd been doing hit all at once, she slumped feeling so guilt ridden
"Are you okay?" Padme asked, Ahsoka snapped out of her thoughts
"Too much on my mind. I'm dreading this trial." Ahsoka lied, she couldn't look Padme in the eyes
Padme kept Ahsoka in arms reach, hugging her reassuringly "I can promise i'll do everything I can to prove your innocence."
"Im not holding out much hope the Senate will treat me any better."
Though she hadn't had many interactions with the Chancellor, standing before him made her feel small
"You have been charged with Sedition against the Jedi Order and the Republic. This court will decide your fate."
Watching Tarkin almost belittle her verbally with accusations left Ahsoka angry
"I asK that the Court use the full extend of the law be brought down upon you. Including penalty of death."
"Ahsoka Tano is not a traitor." Padme continued firmly "From the beginning of her training in the Clone Wars she has done nothing but serve the Republic. I wouldn't standing with you today had she not saved my life on Alderaan from an assassination attempt. Look at the facts Letta told Ahsoka she was afraid, she'd said the mastermind was a Jedi and before Ahsoka learned that name Letta was strangled to death by way of the Force."
"A Jedi may be responsible for the murder but that Jedi is not Ahsoka Tano."
Tarkin's claim of Ahsoka being the murderer hurt the most, he'd questioned Anakin's whereabouts during the trial
"I'm sure many of you look at this former Jedi and think surely she can not be a murderer." the Chancellor declared "Think of all the times we had been fooled by the Separatists, how they have have infiltrated the Republic, is this another Separatist scheme to tear us all apart?"
Anakin figured Ventress claim that Barriss had told Ahsoka to go to the warehouse along with where he'd find her lightsabers seemed so far from his mind
Keeping Barriss in his grip he demanded answers "You better start talking."
"You act as if your in a position of power." she sneered, Anakin fighting the urge to set his lightsaber immediately at her throat "I'm not playing games with you."
Keeping his grip to her arm as they walked with the Temple Guards alongisde them "It was the only way I could make a statement."
Certain of her beliefs Anakin let her talk, not believing any of it for a second
"You have to see the hypocrisy of this order, claiming to protect those that would be powerless without the Jedi when we have become the ones causing more harm than good."
'By taking and putting multiple lives at risk?" His voice laced with poison in every word "Can't wait to see how this turns out."
The Chancellor ready to give the verdict, kept his eyes on Ahsoka, how small she'd felt in that instance
Aankin bursting in with Barriss in tow was a welcomed distraction
"Barriss Offee member of the Jedi Order. A traitor."
Having to hear it directly that someone who was supposed to be her friend so willingly throw her under was a crushing blow.
Ahsoka felt sad for her watching Barriss walk away, to think she trusted so easily
Anakin smiling her way, that warm loving smile between them felt right in this moment learning the charges on her were dropped, but Ahsoka couldn't help feeling bad for Padme
As much as she loved him, trusted him she couldn't continue this game with him
The apologies from the Council members, claiming she'd gone through her great trial could've been enough
"They're asking you back, Ahsoka."
Anakin
What was it about him that drove her to grow so close? was it her wanting to test the true idea of attachments, how he always made her his right hand in most missions. Always kept her out of harm's way, had given her something to work towards as a Youngling ensuring with enough training and patience she would succeed
"I'm asking you back."
If she was to forge her own path in the Galaxy, she would do it on her own, a moment of hesitation as she returned her Padawan braid
"I'm not coming back." as she started off to leave, unsure of where she was headed
Anakin had been able to stop her, pleading with her to stay
"Your making a mistake."
"Maybe." she considered, looking him in the eyes "But I have to sort this out on my own, without the Council...and without you." she said this to herself, sadness immediately taking over as she waited for Anakin's response
A sigh
"I understand. More than you realize..I understand wanting to walk away from the Order."
Ahsoka's guilt over her head now, telling herself to simply walk away but
"I know." her tone unchanging as he let her walk away
Not long after, he'd headed for Padme's and allowed himself to miss her, Padme just as equally as sad for him as they'd sat together and let time ticked by
Goodbye is always the hardest word to say
A/N: Thank you if you've been a constant reader. I know some were expecting a happier ending, but i'm just a sucker for angst. Expect the sequel After the Fall soon enough :) This story has to be one way I survived the dumpster fire of 2020 and I can't help but be grateful to take a chance and just write my thoughts out. Until next time- MTFBWY