Chapter 24 – Homecoming

DISCLAIMER: We do not own Star Wars, even if we wish we did. xD

Author's Note: In which Ahsoka's time in the future comes to an end... The first arc of the book is now complete! :D

Someone pointed out that everything has been fairly similar to what happened in canon. Yes, I know, and there's two reasons for that. One, this is one of the first fanfics we did, so we weren't very experienced in making AUs. Two, Ahsoka is half having a vision. She's supposed to be seeing what the future could have been. :)

~ Amina Gila

WARNING: Major heartbreak ahead! You have been warned, so you can't sue us!

The sound of distant explosions suddenly rings out. The Death Star is under fire. The Rebel Fleet must've gotten through the shield. But that means we really need to get out of here soon. Before we get blown away to space dust. I shudder at the thought. Besides, Anakin's suit is completely fried, and if he's going to live, we need to get it taken care of soon. A surge of determination floods me. We need to move.

With Luke and I on either side of him, we begin making our way towards an Imperial shuttle. Imperial soldiers run about in the background, also frantic to get off the Death Star before it blows up. I've carried Anakin before when things went dreadfully wrong, but he's wearing armor which makes him far heavier, and neither of us are in a state to be doing this anyway.

As we near the shuttle, Luke and I practically collapse from exhaustion. We set him on the floor right next to the entrance as explosions grow louder, shaking the ground.

"Luke, Ahsoka, help me take this mask off," Vader – or rather Anakin – requests.

"But you'll die," Luke protests. I can already feel his force presence slowly fading. No. No. He can't die! He can't!

"Nothing can stop that now. Just for once, let me look on you with my own eyes." Tears blur my vision. Yes, I know he's right, but I somehow am struggling to remain in denial. This... it's something I can't just accept so easily. But still, I can feel his force presence slowly fading away. I've seen many people die before, but not... not my brother. I need him. He can't leave. How will I get home without him? Or will I be trapped here forever? Over the past half year, I've lost all my friends, all the Jedi, everyone except Anakin. And I need him. I need him. And my brother's dying right in front of me, and I can't stop it.

Struggling not to have a completely meltdown right then and there, I help Luke as he takes the mask off. My breath catches as I finally lay eyes on my brother again. I know it's been decades, but he looks so... old. His face is scarred badly to the point of being almost unrecognizable, but his eyes... his eyes are the same blue I remember.

"Now... go. Leave me," he whispers, his voice hardly audible.

"No," I protest desperately, unable to stop the tears from falling anymore, "You're coming with us." I refuse to leave him here. Not if the space station will be blown to dust in moments. I won't leave him ever again. I rest my hand on his shoulder, my grip slowly tightening on the armor as if it'll prevent him from dying.

"I can't leave you here. I've got to save you," Luke insists, practically crying as well.

"You already have. You were right about me." He's using the last of his strength now, and I can tell his next words will be his last. "Luke, tell your sister... you were right."

"Father, I won't leave you."

"Anakin, I won't leave you. Not this time." And I won't. Ever, ever again. Come what may, I'll never leave my brother's side.

And then, his presence fades all the way out as his body sinks back against the floor again, lifeless. He's... he's gone. Just like that. My brother, the person the galaxy worshiped during the entire time period of the Clone Wars, the Chosen One is dead.

This... this is worse than anything I've ever experienced. It feels like someone's stabbing me through the heart over and over again. It's tearing a hole within me, one I know will never be filled because the person I cared about most in the universe is dead. I would have gladly gone through everything again if it meant he were still here. And this... this is all because I didn't pay enough attention to his emotions.

Anakin, my master, my brother, who taught me everything I know, who risked himself to save me countless times, is dead. The only person I thought would always be there. The only person who ever was always there. And how he's just gone, and when someone's dead, you can't bring them back.

Our bond weakens before fracturing. It doesn't disappear, or even shatter entirely, probably because the Anakin from my timeline is still alive, though he's too far away for me to reach. That pain hurts almost more than seeing – feeling – him die did. The echoes of it will remain, no matter what happens, no matter where I go. I'll always carry the impressions that I lost him once. And I know, I can never do it again. I might not Fall now, but if this happens again, I most assuredly will.

The floor shakes beneath me. I don't care. Let myself get blown up in the Death Star. It doesn't really matter, does it?

"Go." I don't know if someone actually gave the command, or if it was just my own imagination, but somehow, I manage to drag myself to my feet – movements completely robotic – and carry Anakin's body into the shuttle with Luke's assistance. Luke instantly takes his position at the controls, letting me sink onto the floor next to Anakin. I should probably be trying to help, but I don't have it in me. I don't think I could move even if I tried.

Behind us, I hear a tremendous explosion, along with thousands of lives disappearing from the Force. The Death Star was blown up. The Rebellion won. The Empire is over. I should be glad. I really, really should be, but right now the only thing that matters is that my brother is dead.

**w**

Bright flames dance against the dark, though lighting, sky. Luke and I stand side by side, as the fire consumes Anakin, in his armor again. The galaxy may be celebrating, but all I can do is mourn.

This... it hardly even feels real. Things shouldn't be like this. He shouldn't be... dead... gone... he should be here like he always is. It was supposed to be just us. It always was. Us and Obi-Wan. And now I'm the only one still alive. I don't bother to try and stop the tears that flow unceasingly as my pain stabs through my heart, shattering whatever is left of it even further. I can't believe this is really the end. It's not, a voice whispers inside my head, you can still change things back in your time. But that does little to make me feel better right now.

Hopelessness and longing well inside of me as I stare at the blurred flames, unable to look at anything else right now. I miss him so terribly in this moment that it physically hurts. I may have managed all this time I've been here, but now... I don't know how I'll be able to go on anymore at all. This pain is too much to handle.

Whenever, and however, I get back home, I am going to do everything in my power to make sure things don't end like this.

I don't know how long it's been by the time the fire has finally died out, reducing everything to ashes just like how I feel inside right now. Now, it's time to go join the others, to take part in a celebration while all I can do is cry internally.

A bonfire burns in the center of those gathered for the celebration in the Ewok village. Just like... I take a deep breath, forcing a strained smile onto my face. I cannot have another breakdown right now, though I all I want to do is go hide from life itself, especially the unrelenting pain tearing me to pieces. The bond hurts. I never knew that bonds could hurt. It feels like it's shattering and rebuilding every single second I spend here. I'm not supposed to be here anymore.

The Ewoks and Rebels celebrate around the fire, laughing, singing, and dancing, with drums beating in the background. As Luke and I approach, Han, Chewie, and Leia hurry over and embrace us. I hug them back though my heart's not really in it.

It's then that I suddenly feel a shifting in the Force in a spot not far away from us, over in the trees. Luke senses it too. Slipping away from the rest of the celebration, we both turn our attention towards the disturbance.

Two shimmering figures materialize, Obi-Wan and Yoda. And then... another slowly appears. I blink in shock for a moment, almost as though expecting him to disappear again before my eyes. It takes a moment for me to realize he's more than just a figure of my own imagination because I want to see him again so badly. But he doesn't disappear. He's really here. Anakin. He looks just the way he did back from my own time. He exchanges a look with the other Force ghosts before turning his gaze towards us, a near smirk on his face.

I run over to them, stopping only a few feet away. I probably look like I'm crazy, but I don't even care.

"I'm sorry you had to witness that," Anakin is the first to speak. It's not until then I register that he's not wearing his usual color, but much lighter. Even lighter than Obi-Wan. It's a clear indication he was fully redeemed.

"Anakin?" I choke out. If he was actually physically here, I'd tackle him in a hug.

"It's time for you to go home, Ahsoka," he says, "What you needed to witness here is done."

That... that means... I'll be back with everyone. And Anakin will still be alive. "Just let me say goodbye first," I request, and he nods.

For like the first time, excitement surges inside of me. Finally, after so long, I'll be back at home. With a long mission ahead of me, yes, but at least I'll be there, with Anakin. I'll have the power to stop all of this from happening. And I will.

"I guess this is a goodbye," I say, suddenly feeling the faintest tinge of sadness again, turning towards Luke, only then thinking about just how he must feel right now. Yoda just died, then his father died, and now I'm going to leave. It nearly makes me feel guilty. But at the same time, this timeline won't exist anymore so...

"I guess so," he says quietly, avoiding my eyes. Stepping closer, I pull him into a hug.

"Don't worry, Luke. None of this will happen when I'm back home. I'll make sure of it," I promise. He only nods in response. Looking past him, I realize we have quite the audience now. Han, Leia, and Chewie are all watching us, clearly wondering just what in the world is going on over here.

I walk over to them, leaving Luke to talk to the Force ghosts for the moment.

"What's happening?" questions Leia.

"I'm going home," I get right to the point.

"Now? Only just after we've won?" exclaims Leia, disappointment evident.

"Going home?" echoes Han, "What do you mean?" Right. He still thinks I'm from this time.

"I'm... well... not even from this universe. I'm from the past. And it's time for me to go back now."

Han rolls his eyes, "You are not going to get me to believe that."

"It's true," Chewie growls to him before turning to me, "Farewell, Ahsoka. We'll all miss you." I hug him, then Leia again.

"If it makes you feel better, I'll make sure you meet," I offer, glancing between the three, "And now... farewell."

I step away from them, scanning the crowd of the others who are celebrating. There's one more thing I have to do before I go. Finally, I manage to spot him between the throngs of other people.

"Rex!"

"Commander?" he asks in surprise, hurrying over to me, "It's good to see you safe."

"You too. I'm here to say goodbye," I explain hastily, "I'm going home."

"Right now?" he questions, "We haven't even had a chance to have that talk."

I sigh. "I know, but I have to leave now." The Force wants to send me back now for whatever reason, without delays. "Whatever I learned will have to suffice."

"I'm sure you'll do fine," Rex says, "At least you should be able to change some things."

"I guess I'll... see you soon... sort of," I mumble awkwardly. Well, it's true. I probably will see the Rex of my timeline shortly after I get back. I stare at him for another long moment, before turning and dashing back to the Force ghosts.

"Just remember to keep your shields up," Obi-Wan reminds me. I'm confused for a second until I realize what he means. No, I really don't need the Council finding out I'm a Grey Jedi. Especially now that I'm way off balance.

"You won't be alone on your mission," Anakin adds. I look at him in confusion. What? I was the only person who time travelled. "You can tell Obi-Wan what you saw," he clarifies, "And Padme." I nod. Of course. They'll be the best ones who can help me. "May the Force be with you, Ahsoka."

I can feel the Force shifting around me, first slightly, then faster and faster. Then a vaguely familiar feeling strikes me, like the same one I felt half a year ago before coming here. I'm falling again, spinning endlessly through the passage of time and space. But this time, I know my destination. Home.