Chapter Eighty-Six: Amidala

Ahsoka thought that with her accepting Vader's proposal to be empress, they'd see the peace conference dwindling to its end. However, that only seemed to bring about more debate on how they would divide said executive power. Not to mention a thousand other things that had to be debated to rework the Imperial constitution. They'd be negotiating for weeks more, it seemed. Maybe months to both her and Vader's dismay.

But Ahsoka thought she'd rather sit through all those meetings than have the confrontation that she'd been putting off for the past few weeks. More than that. The past few years.

Ahsoka leaned against the wall across from the door to a large conference room as the moffs that remained after Palpatine's death and hadn't gone into hiding filed out. Thrawn, who had been smart enough to pledge loyalty to Vader when it was clear that he held all the cards, stopped upon seeing her.

"General Tano. Or do you prefer, Fulcrum?" he asked.

"Either one is fine," Ahsoka answered flatly.

"I have to say that I've been impressed by the tales of your fortitude. It's reflected in the caliber of your generals," he stated.

Ahsoka supposed he was talking about Diya, Barriss, and Rex. One of the first things she asked them was how they managed to defeat Thrawn and get to Imperial Center as fast as they had to help her and Vader. Apparently, after he'd captured them, they led a mutiny. Escaping holding had been easy enough, but it meant nothing without a plan. They broke into Thrawn's office and found the highly classified and confidential order that Palpatine issued a treason accusation against Vader. Knowing that Vader was a legend among the stormtroopers, Rex came up with the plan to play it aloud across the fleet. While Diya handled that, Rex instigated the rioting. When the fighting began to reach its peak, Barriss managed to negotiate Thrawn into defecting because it was either that or lose and end up being tossed out an airlock. Hence, what Palpatine thought were his own reinforcements arriving had actually been reinforcements for Vader and Ahsoka.

That still didn't mean Ahsoka had to like him. Dealing with Thrawn was going to be like dealing with Mandalore. He cared for himself and his people out in the unknown regions first, and he'd adjust with whichever tide best held his people's interest. His people were more or less the same.

Vader, in his full life support suit, walked out the room before Ahsoka could figure out what to make of that weird compliment.

"Lord Vader," Thrawn said with a nod.

"Admiral," Vader said. The question was implied enough. Why was he still here?

"I was just complimenting the prowess of the future empress."

Ahsoka resisted the urge to cringe. She still couldn't believe Vader managed to position her into that. Even though it had been two weeks since she agreed to it, Ahsoka wasn't sure she was ever going to get used to it.

Thrawn nodded once again before leaving.

"Force, I hate him," Ahsoka said, not caring if the chiss was out of range or not.

"And right now, he's more useful to us alive than dead," Vader pointed out. "He hasn't given us a reason to dispose of him yet."

"I guess."

Vader gave her a once over. "You're apprehensive about something."

"Yeah. Just… There's something we need to discuss."

"I'll cancel my next appointment," Vader said with a sound that was probably a sigh through his modulator.

"No need. I am your next appointment." Ahsoka said, making her way into the conference room.

Vader followed her back in silently, though his curiosity and worry came clear across the bond. Ahsoka did nothing to try to ease it.

He pulled up a random seat at the table. Ahsoka deliberately sat across from him, back straight, face firm the same way it would be when she was dealing with High Command or some other important delegate. She wanted him to realize how serious this was. That no amount of banter could deflect away from what she had to go over with him.

Vader seemed to get that. His demeanor changed too.

"What's going on?"

"Take that off first," Ahsoka said, nodding to the mask and helmet. She wanted to look into his face for this.

When the pieces were sitting on the table, Ahsoka got straight to the point.

"We need to talk about you."

"What did I do now?"

"Nothing lately. But everything in the past ten years," Ahsoka said bluntly as she opened her datapad and began to read off the screen. "Nine years ago, Ryloth revolted against the Empire in protest of the exploitation of their people by not only the Empire but the Hutts the Empire was in league with. In the midst of it all, they damaged an Imperial Star destroyer that held both you and Sidious on it. This led to the Free Ryloth Movement Massacre, where you killed all those part of the movement, their prisoners, and an entire village."

"They attacked us first."

"After they suffered brutal exploitation of their planet at the Empire's hands," Ahsoka said. She continued, "Ten years ago, on the moon of Al'doleem, eye-witness reports say they saw you duel another Jedi. You broke a water tank to distract him. He begged you not to take his life in exchange for the city, but you killed him and flooded the entire city to spite him. Also, ten years ago, someone in the Empire, I'm assuming Palpatine, put an expensive bounty on your head to prove a point. For every bounty hunter that attempted to kill you, you killed five Imperial officers, not to mention slaughtered every bounty hunter that came after you. Families included." Ahsoka forced herself to pause to make sure Vader hadn't forgotten to breathe. He was suspiciously still. Physically and in the Force. Their bond scarily muted. Ahsoka kept going. "The Kashyyyk massacres. The Geonosian Genocide. The—"

"I don't need you to list off all my crimes, Ahsoka. I'm very aware of them. Get to the point," he finally said curtly.

His face was stony, and his eyes were deep amber yellow. Ahsoka sensed the dark side rising in Vader, feeding off his tumultuous emotions.

"These aren't just crimes. They're atrocities," Ahsoka corrected. "And are you really aware of them? Are you really aware of what you've done? How many lives you've ruined?"

"Palpatine—"

"Forced you to do it. And if you hadn't, someone else would have. That you were a mercy compared to what others would have done if it wasn't you. Honestly, I don't know how true that is. The only redeeming thing about all this is that you personally didn't condone sexual violence. But everything else? It's there. Every crime at your hands that the Rebellion has cataloged. And I'm pretty sure there are plenty missing," Ahsoka said, sliding the datapad over to him.

Vader didn't look down at it.

Ahsoka sighed, relaxing her façade and reaching across her bond with Vader. He remained silent and closed off.

"Do you regret any of it?" she asked quietly, looking down at the table. "Do you wish you could take any of it back?"

"What does it matter?" he snapped tersely. "I can't."

"That's not the point."

"Then what is?"

"That you deserve to be executed, Vader."

Silence fell. Ahsoka let the gravity of the words settle between them.

"There are a lot of people that don't see you as the lesser of two evils. To them, you were the only evil. You've ruined billions of lives, both directly and indirectly. And killing Palpatine and taking over the Empire yourself in what looks like little more than a selfish power grab does nothing to erase all that. Nothing will. And don't get me wrong. When I said I'd bear the burden of your sins, I meant that. I'm always going to be on your side and defend you. But you've got to give me something to work with. Something to present to the galaxy that makes you worth redeeming."

Because truthfully, Ahsoka wasn't sure what Vader would do once this was all over and he was tried with the real pressures of ruling a galaxy. As much as she knew he had the potential to be kind and someone to look up to, she understood why people doubted her. He'd been terrorizing the galaxy as Vader a lot longer than he'd been the galaxy's hero. Hell, she'd known him as the terror that was Vader a lot longer than she'd known him as the hero and mentor that was Anakin Skywalker. What was to say that none of this had anything to do with Palpatine and that the former Sith Lord hadn't just given him the excuse to show his true colors? Already, he'd threatened the loyalist with more war if they didn't agree to make her empress.

Something came across the bond. Sympathy. Understanding. Disquietude. He'd heard the gist of her thoughts, and he too had his doubts about himself whether he'd admit to them or not. Maybe his reasons for wanting to make her empress weren't so selfish as she assumed. Maybe he also wasn't sure he could be trusted to be emperor on his own without his shortcomings and expansive powers corrupting it.

"So I'm asking," Ahsoka began again, "do you regret any of it? Beyond how it hurt your family and separated you from them? Beyond how you hurt me?"

He remained silent and still for a long time, once again blocking Ahsoka off in the Force. Still, she could see the conflict playing out in his eyes. The way the amber in his eyes receded some, only to darken once more and then recede again. The way the muscles in his jaw twitched and clenched.

"Anakin," Ahsoka implored. "It's just you and I here. There's no pretense you have to maintain right now."

He clenched his right hand, an old nervous tic of his. Finally, he said, "I… I don't know."

It was a better answer than Ahsoka had hoped for. There was a time when he would have tried to find a justification for it. Excused it away as keeping order and stability in the Empire. At least that answer meant he wasn't sure if that was true anymore. It was a start. And maybe without having to play lapdog for Palpatine, without the old man always in Vader's ear, he'd get to a point where he could let go of his pride and safe haven of the dark side enough to admit that maybe he regretted everything. But that was something Vader was going to have to figure out.

He didn't have to do it alone.

"Okay," Ahsoka replied.

"Okay?" Vader asked, narrowing his eyes at her. "What do you mean by that?"

"You can't just get away with what you've done. So I'm not going to let you," Ahsoka said as she used the Force to pull the datapad back to her. She closed out the file of Vader's crimes and opened up another file before sliding it back over. Vader looked down at it this time.

"What's this?"

"Penance," Ahsoka said. "All the things you're going to do to help make up for the damage you've done. And not just you. Everyone. Every place where you or the Empire have wreaked havoc, every place where you've committed crimes, you're going to go back and make amends."

As Vader scrolled through the list, Ahsoka sensed his rage return. Being confronted with his crimes was one thing. Admitting that he wasn't as sure that he didn't regret it as he claimed was another. But having to actually have to go back and face those people when he was still conflicted about it, when he still didn't want to admit he was wrong? Ahsoka had a feeling Vader would choose to face a trial.

"If they want me executed, they'll want me there to help them even less than I would want to be there."

"Well, you're going to have to figure out how to deal with that. Aren't you? Without violence," Ahsoka added.

Vader huffed and slid the datapad back to her.

"Think of it this way. You said it yourself. After everything you've done, you don't deserve any of this. Me, your children, the Empire. But you have it. And you're lucky enough to have the opportunity to make amends. Most people don't get a second chance like that," Ahsoka said. She scrolled to one particular project. She slid the datapad back over. "And you can start with that one."

Vader frowned. "No."

"Yes."

"I'm a Sith."

"Exactly. The Jedi were your original sin."

They were also the easiest to please, given their teachings about being humble and forgiving and letting go. That was after she invited those that remained and were willing to come, including Yoda, to a clandestine meeting on her cruiser while Vader was otherwise occupied. It had taken some debate, some reassurance that Vader hadn't corrupted her. But eventually, they agreed not to make any moves against Vader. It helped that Ahsoka had once been a Jedi and knew how to use their philosophy against them. It also helped that she had the sympathies of the last of the Jedi High Council, Obi-wan and Yoda, though they too had their reservations. In the end, however, they came to an agreement. Ahsoka would ensure that Vader had no intentions of passing down the Sith teachings. They would not start the Jedi Order anew or interfere in the budding government under her and Vader's rule. The Sith would end with Vader. They would train no new Jedi.

For now.

But many in the galaxy still respected the Jedi despite Palpatine's propaganda against them. It would go a long way to proving Vader's intentions if he publicly led the initiative to turn the former Imperial Palace into a memorial for the Jedi, which would culminate in the official rescission of Order 66 and their charge of treason. Ahsoka also thought it was going to be hilariously entertaining to watch both Vader and the Jedi work together to make this project happen.

"That you know of," Vader finally added quietly.

Ahsoka had made peace a long time ago that Anakin Skywalker had never been the shining beacon of virtue that the galaxy once made him out to be. So it didn't surprise Ahsoka that there might be some other atrocity that happened during the Clone War. But goodness knew they'd all committed an atrocity by participating in that entire debacle.

"Well, whatever it is, better add it to the list," Ahsoka said wryly. She stood to her feet and leaned across the table toward him. "You are going to spend the rest of your life making up for all this. I'm going to spend the rest of my life helping you. And maybe it'll be enough that history will be kind and forgive us one day. Maybe it'll be enough to leave a legacy that our children don't have to be ashamed of."

Ahsoka began to leave the room. She paused halfway.

"Vader."

"Ahsoka."

She turned to look into his now blue eyes.

"If you ever do something like this again, there won't even be the discussion of a trial. I'll kill you myself."

And Force knew if it came to that, it would destroy Ahsoka. Just like it destroyed Padmé.

"And then," Ahsoka added, "I'll turn my lightsaber on myself to save myself the heartbreak."

Ahsoka left the room.


Almost three months after Palpatine was killed, the peace conference managed to agree on and sign a new Imperial Constitution, which created a new office of executive power. Right after, they signed the treaty that made Ahsoka the new empress. But though that piece of signed legal document might have made it official, that didn't mean Vader was letting Ahsoka off the hook for the formality of her coronation. Even her High Command agreed with him, citing to Ahsoka that the treaty was for legal purposes. The coronation was so the public could recognize it.

Even understanding that, Ahsoka grumbled and complained over the next three weeks through every dress fitting, every decoration approval, every photoshoot that she was forced to sit through, and anything else to do with the entire affair. And Vader was there every step of the way taking sadistic glee in her disgruntlement. If she was going to put him through the torture of a state wedding in a year and the torture of helping the Jedi memorialize their temple, then he would spare no opportunity to torture her the same way.

For now, they were keeping the news of their engagement to themselves. At first, inadvertently because they hadn't thought to mention it to anyone. Then it came up during one of her fittings, and Sabé, Rex, Diya, and (to Vader's annoyance) Obi-wan had been there to overhear them debating about it. Then deliberately because already intelligence reports indicated that the general public was uneasy about the idea of Ahsoka becoming empress. Especially given that some details about their partnership were getting to the public. Nothing concrete. There was no paper trail leading Vader to Ahsoka over the last ten years or vice versa. But the announcement of their engagement would do more damage to her than it would help his image.

Thus, quiet their relationship stayed. Just long enough to put the public at ease. To let them know that she was still on their side. Someone that would always go to task with and could hold her own against Vader even if they were now serving the same government.

That also meant keeping the children out the public eye as much as possible. An easy task, for now. They were mostly confined to the luxury complex that was supposed to be a temporary home but was being prepped to go through renovations to make it the new Imperial Palace.

While Vader understood the reasoning, he still saw little point in all the secrecy and careful release of information. Either way, it would eventually come out that Ahsoka's children all belonged to Vader, that their third had been conceived during the war. The pretense would be obvious if it wasn't already. People had already put together that the two knew each other in the past. And it would only take one brave reporter to really test the looser censorship regulations and remind the public that the two had fought in the war with each other. It would take only a little more investigation, an old Clone War propaganda photo maybe, for someone to realize they'd actually been student and teacher.

Ahsoka shared his sentiments but decided to go with the charade anyway. Vader got the feeling she was enjoying messing with the media and hearing their speculation. He did not share that sentiment with her.

Still, there was an apprehension about all this that lingered, like every being in the Force was collectively holding their breath. It made Vader constantly vigilant of the Force during the coronation. He was grateful for the cover of his mask because he constantly glanced over to where Luke and Leia were, sitting with the Alderaan delegation. For now, they would continue to take advantage of Luke's and Leia's status as wards of the Royal House of Alderaan. Just until they were confident the most dangerous threats were neutralized. Then they'd begin to allow the public to figure out their true status in the Empire.

He then found Mé in the crowd, being looked after by two maidens posing as a couple amongst all the important dignitaries. Periodically, the three and a half-month-old would poke at their bond, and though now was not the time to be distracted, Vader poked back. Better that than the girl exhibit some show of the Force. She was already using it to pull the toys that dangled from her activity gym down into her grasp.

Then Vader did a general sweep of the entire ballroom, seeking any discreet threats before going through the process all over again.

Even with the pacemaker regulating his breathing, Vader didn't feel capable of taking a complete breath until Ahsoka was standing in front of him, until she repeated some solemn vow to take her duties seriously, and until he put on the delicately jeweled headdress that formally made her Empress to the public. Well, empress in spirit. Ahsoka insisted the new executive position be called Amidala.

"Don't you think that's a little contradictory? Even a violation, all things considered?" Vader asked when Ahsoka came up with the idea. Not only was the idea of an Empire in direct opposition to the ideals Padmé stood for, but she'd outright rejected it. Vader ignored the traitorous voice in his head that reminded him that so had Ahsoka at one point. That Padmé might have been persuaded if he hadn't let his rage control him. Because hadn't she already been having her doubts about the Senate? Hadn't she already known that the Republic she'd served was on its dying breath?

"Maybe. But the way I see it, it's a reminder of what our goal should be. So we don't forget what we should be striving towards. One day, many centuries from now, maybe millennia, this galaxy will be ready for what she envisioned. Every person who carries power in her name after me will move toward preparing the galaxy for that to happen," she'd responded. Then she added, "And until then, this way, she won't be forgotten."

There was a lot Vader could address in that. The implication that Ahsoka might have a lot more sympathies toward a slightly more democratic government than she let on. That despite that, she understood the galaxy would have to do with a benevolent dictatorship. That one day, the galaxy might be ready for what Padmé had envisioned. Yet, Vader hadn't known what to say despite all the things to address. So he'd said nothing. It was harmless. Those issues were something an emperor and empress far in the future could deal with. Besides, he was long past the overwhelming grief that would have made it unbearable to hear that name.

Vader wasn't the only one that felt like he could breathe. After the coronation was over, it felt like the Force itself had given a collective sigh of relief. That allowed Vader to spend the rest of the after-ceremony celebration much like he used to spend these kinds of events when Palpatine was emperor. Standing in the corner watching the festivities. Specifically, this time, watching as Ahsoka made rounds through the room with her escorts around her. The security was also something she'd complained about, citing that she was more protection for them than they were for her. In response, Vader had Rex increase her guards, and she hadn't complained after, though she'd done a fair amount of glaring and pouting at him. Perhaps it had been overboard, though. Already, he could see that people were in awe of her. For a myriad of reasons. But in awe, nonetheless. Just like he knew they would be.

"Lord Vader."

Vader turned his head to see Bail Organa with Luke, Leia, and Winter trailing behind him, all three with flutes of cider in their hands.

"How did you get your hands on that?" Vader demanded.

Leia and Luke rolled their eyes and chimed, "It's non-alcoholic, Dad."

At them calling him Dad, Vader tilted his head at them and said, "We discussed this. You must—"

"Exercise discretion in any of our meetings. We know. We've been doing this for years," Leia said with a smile that Vader wasn't sure which mother she'd gotten from.

"Besides," Winter said with an impish grin, "if anyone asks, I just wanted to thank you on behalf of Alderaan for ending the Empire's invasion and announcing you and the Amidala's intent to give aid for rebuilding efforts."

"You could have very well told me that at another time, princess," Vader pointed out, trying to feign irritation. Clearly, the children thought he'd failed because they giggled behind their flutes.

"I apologize, Lord Vader," Organa said. "But they insisted."

If he wasn't very well familiar with the way all three children could insist on something when they wanted it, Vader might have indulged in degrading the man. As it was, he refrained from comment. Organa already looked like he'd rather jump out of an airlock than be in Vader's presence for longer than necessary. And though Organa's presence was the least of his sufferings over the years, Vader shared a similar sentiment. At least in the suit, he'd survive it. The only satisfaction that he ever got from Organa's presence was the man's obvious but restrained displeasure that his daughter seemed to adore him so much.

"We were just about to be on our way," Organa added. "Winter was asleep in her chair a few minutes ago."

"I was not, Papa!"

The girl's yawn thereafter made Vader more inclined to believe her father.

"I'll see you at home," Vader finally said with a slight inclination of his head.

The twins beamed at that, despite Vader's show of restraint. He supposed this was the first time they had to leave him but knew he'd follow along soon. In fact, he may have seen them more in the last three months than he'd seen them combined in the last ten years.

As the children left with Organa, Vader took note of the two maidens joining him to leave, one with Mé asleep on her shoulder. Vader tore his gaze away to find Ahsoka again but found she was gone upon a glance around the room. Not sensing anything amiss, he tugged on their bond. Ahsoka immediately opened up to him, flashing an image of where she was. Or, at least, where she was going, considering Vader doubted she could get that far in the span of only a few minutes.

The Imperial Palace was currently closed to all of the public, and Ahsoka herself held strong feelings of contempt for the place. Though, he supposed that was the reason she'd disappeared from her security and come here. They'd never think to look for her here. He'd let them continue to scramble for a while longer before he told them she was secure. If she hadn't already informed someone that she was safe.

He found her on the roof and silently joined her in taking in the night view of their Empire.

Their Empire.

Vader's greatest achievement.

No. Not his greatest achievement.

His greatest achievement was standing next to him. Although he wasn't sure how much credit he could take for it. He'd trained her. Pointed her in the right direction. Been the catalyst for the events that led them here. However, Ahsoka blossomed in ways that even he couldn't have predicted. In ways that were beyond his ability to teach or inspire. Most of what she had become was all her.

"I just needed to get away for a moment," Ahsoka offered as explanation.

"It's fine," Vader said gently. Or tried to. He groaned and discarded the mask and helmet, carelessly tossing it somewhere on the ground. "I've really got to get around to redesigning this damn thing."

"No. What you've really got to get around to is letting your medical team do that respiratory transplant you've been putting off," Ahsoka corrected.

"I'll eventually get to it. But right now, I can't afford to take the time off that the recovery would require. Not to mention rehab."

Ahsoka clicked her tongue. "Excuses."

They fell into one of their companionable silences, content to continue looking over Imperial Cen—Coruscant. They were calling it Coruscant again now. Much of the city was celebrating their new empress. They'd even ensured the people on the levels below had food and drink for the occasion, despite all the troublesome coordination it took. With all their efforts, hopefully, no one would go hungry on the planet this evening. And if they were, it was something Vader was sure Ahsoka would see to fixing soon.

"But what if I can't do it?" Ahsoka asked. "What if I can't be what the galaxy wants and needs me to be?"

The only thing the galaxy wanted from her, for now, was to hold his proverbial leash. Already, Ahsoka proved she had the moxie to do that by setting her personal feelings aside for the sake of what she thought was right. Ahsoka had accused him of many things over the years, never letting him forget his sins. But to look him in the eye and not just lay them in from of him, but to read off his crimes one by one to his face and tell him he deserved to be executed? Vader might have been furious in the moment, but he was belatedly impressed and validated in his decision to hand power over to her. If she could demand that he make amends and then threaten to kill him if he turned back to his darkest ways while knowing what he was capable of and despite what he meant to her, she would fight anyone. There wasn't going to be a dull moment with her as Empress.

"You can," Vader responded simply. There was nothing he would be able to say to convince her. She'd eventually find out for herself.

"I guess." A pause. "So, you're emperor now."

"And you're the empress."

She moved to stand in from of him. Then she wrapped her arms around his chest and leaned her head in his shoulder, reaching across their bond in silent askance. He returned her embrace and opened himself up to the Force for her. Then, she cocooned herself in his dark presence in such a way that if anyone wanted to find her in the Force, she'd be entirely out of their sight. And maybe that was partly why Palpatine hadn't been able to see her coming all these years.

Vader kissed her between her montrals.

"Now what?" she asked.

"You are going to stand before the first senate session in a year next week as the first Galactic Empress."

"And after that?"

He smirked and said, "You're gonna give 'em all hell, my heart."

End of How to Take an Empire

AKA

The Making of an Empress


It's over. A year after I started writing this and ten months after I started posting. The most ambitious writing project I have ever embarked on. I set out writing it because I really didn't have any inspiration for my original works and was just burnt out. So I wrote Force Distortion for fun. Then people kept asking me about the story of this universe, and I decided to write it.

Never in a million years did I think a story with a rare paring (especially one that's been as controversial and getting a lot of hate lately in the communities for reasons I'm not sure of) like Anisoka/Vadersokawould get as popular as it did. Thanks for all the support. I'll be answering most comments and questions to this chapter and entire story in general. But I'm going to preempt a few questions.

1) "The Making of an Empress" was originally what I wanted this story to be titled. However, I knew there would be people who read this story but hadn't read "Force Distortion," especially when I make clear it could be read on its own. For those people, the title would have been a HUGE spoiler. Hence why I titled it "How to Take an Empire" instead, which might have been more fitting because it's not just about how Ahsoka ascends to one of the most powerful positions in the Empire, it's also about how Vader breaks his programming from Palpatine to do the same on his own terms.

2) Writing and maturing Vader while making him still Vader was one hell of an exercise in thought in execution. I scrapped soooo many lines, rewrote scenes and a lot more trying to teeter that balance. In the end, it wasn't as hard as I thought. 1) Because Vader is not as much of an unthinking, violent brute as fandom makes him to be (make no mistake that he IS, there's just more to him), 2) Because I realized the Vader of canon has no reason to prove to anyone that he's anything more than that so he doesn't, and 3) Because canon Vader has no reason to prove that he's anything more, he never grows beyond the psychosis that he was in on Mustafar.

3) Writing and maturing Ahsoka wasn't as hard as doing the same for Vader. She's pretty much the same Ahsoka who is more or less slightly tempered by motherhood. She's hothead, a little reckless, teasing, says what's on her mind, kind, and never backs down from a challenge. Hence, she was actually more well-suited to become empress without too much work when she's thrown in the situation because it's just an extension of what she's always done. Fight for what she thinks is right. Hence why for the majority of this story, Ahsoka struggles with the right way to deal with Vader is.

4) There are some things left… unsettled would be the word with this story. But tying off every thread with a neat bow is not how life works and also wasn't the point of this story. That said, I will absolutely be returning to this universe. There's Vader and Ahsoka's wedding (that in itself is a ten chapter story), continuing "It'll be Like I Never Left" which is Vader's journey to finding true peace for his past and takes place years after the end of this story. There's Padmé's family on Naboo who don't know about Luke and Leia. And, in general, there's just a lot more to explore in this universe.

5) In addition to the above, I have a much lighter OT3 fic that I'm doing featuring Padmé/Anakin/Ahsoka that takes place in a universe where Anakin didn't turn (Already outlined fourteen chapters and I'm keeping it that way). A story that might be a bunch of shorts that take place between chapter one and two of HtTaE chronicling the fallout of Ahsoka's trial even though she didn't leave. There's also the what if Ahsoka and Anakin which will be a deconstruction of the pairing. In essence, I'll be around. This isn't the last you've seen of me. But...

6) The above said, this is the last work I'll post on this site. I've hated the interfacing and the way it restricts my creative freedom for months now. So if you want to keep up with me and read those stories, you can find me over on archive of our own under the same pen name.

Anywho, hope you enjoyed. Until next time, LadyDae out.