Many Jedi were formed up in a ring around the center. They were in the center tower of the Jedi Temple. Masters and senior knights made up most of the crowd gathered. In the center several Padawans and senior knights all kneeling facing a member of the Jedi Council. Most were nameless to Anakin as he had joined the center. He felt nervous and guilty for what he was about to do. However, every time he questioned the Force it only greeting his question with warmth and acceptance. It was not a feeling he was used to getting. Around him was Tru Vald, Darra Thel Tanis, and Ferus Olin. Somewhere behind him was Siri Tachi as she would be made into a master.
He felt their pride and determination and the truth of the oaths they had spoken just minutes ago. Of the padawans one by one they were call forward and their braids burned away by a lightsaber. For the newly made masters they were given a holocron to record their further studies. Each held out their lightsabers and a something was done to them before handing them back. The newly knighted would learn later what was done but the masters knew already what now was embedded inside their saber hilts.
Anakin had thought he would feel joy and pride and acceptance by being made a knight just like the others, but when his time came only the younger knights and padawans felt that way. Only a few masters did as well but the rest of the High Council and the other council masters felt afraid and felt scorn from them. Could they know what he was about to do? No matter it had to be done and he looked to Master Qui Gon and his master nodded. Obi Wan by his side looking calm but he was barely there as worry rolled off of him through the Force. Hours earlier he had over heard Obi Wan voicing his concern.
"Master, I wonder if you have gone too far."
"What do you mean Padawan Mine?"
"Anakin, he is a strong Jedi and I have no problems working with him other than he is a reckless pilot, but all this time you have never understood the danger he presents."
"Danger to whom?"
"To everyone. You are always praising his action and even accepted his last action. He should have been kept humbled. Yet you have done nothing but coddle him."
"Humbled? Did I ever keep you humbled? He is a Jedi like any other and when he succeeds I shall acknowledge that and when he fails I make him learn his mistake and how it could have been done better."
"He is dangerous, Master. The council sees this and this last action proves it. Attachments can only lead one down one path."
"Are you so afraid that you can not say that he got married is a mistake?"
"That is not the mistake or the action that he has taken that I am referring to."
"Then what is?"
"That he will take his oaths as a Jedi Knight and then resign the Jedi Order."
"Obi Wan this is his decision and one that I may not like, but it is out principle that it be done this way. It is to prove that he made it to knighthood against all their humbling efforts. He is a strong dedicated young man who never will fit into the Jedi Order as it stands."
"Still it does not make sense."
"To him it does and he has a family. You are part of it as his brother as Jenica is his sister. He feels if he remains he will betray you and the Jedi Order." Anakin saw the look that Obi Wan gave Qui Gon and then this calm as Obi Wan started to think. Then he walked out of there as his presence in the Force flared.
"Master Siri Tachi you made light the path." She looked around the room and her lightsaber ignited as the lights went out again. One by one the room filled with the snap hiss and hum of active lightsabers. In times past such and event was filled with blue and green blades with the occasional yellow. Now it was a full rainbow of colors with Anakin's blade being the most unusual. Then as he moved slightly to the center his blade went out as his lightsaber fell apart to leave only the crystals in the center. It glowed even brighter in a prismatic display of color.
"Knight Anakin what are you doing?!"
"Is it not obvious."
"Leave the Order you can not."
"I can Master Yoda. I saw the new ranks that we all were given. As much of a guardian I have been taught to be I will not support a war and will not accept the rank of General."
"You do not have to serve if do not want to, but I feel there is more that you are not saying."
"Oh I got married and so I was going to resign just for that, but that there is very few in the Jedi Order who have the knowledge and strategic training to lead troops in a war. This is not the Jedi Order of the Old Republic. I am a Jedi Knight, but I will not blindly serve an Order under the thumb of a Sith." With that Anakin walked out and to even further surprise so did half the knights and a quarter of the masters. Lightsaber hilts hit the floor as crystals shone brightly. Master Yoda held up his hand as even Obi Wan's hilt clattered on the floor. His little hover disc the only thing holding the ancient master from falling over.
"Master Qui Gon this has your hand in this."
"We should have exiled you. You have finally destroyed the Jedi Order with your rebellion."
"Destroy it he did not."
"Master Yoda you can't support..." Ki Adi Mundi suddenly yelped as a crack was heard and a gimer stick flew back into Master Yoda's hand.
"I am sorry that it has come to this. Until the Sith is found I do not think you will keep any more Jedi. They follow the will of the Force. They see what you do not. Remember the dark side clouds everything. Hard to see the future it is. Not hard when you come back into the light." Pieces from all the lightsabers in the room floated to drop right in front of the High Council Masters.
"You will not survive without the Jedi Order or Republic."
"Master Koth I have not been a member of the Jedi Order since Naboo. I am the Grandmaster of the Jedi Enclave on Bacrana." He turned and left the stunned Jedi that remained. He did not like ruining their advancement, but it made a very clear point. He was half down the lift when Master Yoda suddenly smiled.
"Master Yoda I do not think this to be a time for smiles."
"Plo Koon funny it is. See now the truth I have."
"Master Yoda I am getting reports of ships leaving the hangers or Jedi just dropping their lightsabers and leaving." Mace Windu stared at his datapad in shock. Master Yoda did not reply he only started laughing.
Ahsoka Tano looked around her in shock as dozens of Jedi were rushing about many with large packs and bags. Some were calm were others were openly laughing as if this was a time to celebrate. Many in her creche were shocked as well. Then one knight or master came up to one of her friends and whispered in his ear as his eyes grew. The sudden realization the the female looked very much like the boy.
"Mother, Yes!" Came not a second later still causing her to gasp in surprise. Then there came another asking the Quarren girl to be someone's padawan. Ahsoka was in so much confusion that she did not notice the presence that was standing behind her. Tears came to her eyes as she saw her friends vanish one by one. She growled not understanding or being able to hold back the fear and anger that this chaos caused.
"Chaos, yet harmony." She turned around to see the calmest Jedi left in the Temple.
"Master is it not the line, There is no chaos, only harmony?"
"Yes that is one of the codes. Accept that I no longer see it as a code that should be taken so literally. Only Sith deal in absolutes, not Jedi. Master Odan Urr was wrong to think all Jedi could follow his change to the code in a healthy manner. For emotional species like you and me control is more important than being free of emotions."
"Master, but emotions lead to the dark side."
"Do they? When you are happy do you give it to the Force so you are no longer happy or do hope it goes all day feeling good?"
"Well sure not happy or feeling good. We should turn it to contentment so it last longer."
"But being content means everything is perfect."
"That can't be true?"
"Is it? So let me ask you. You are given a cake. A cake that is okay, but some says it will rot your teeth, but then it is shoved in your mouth. If you take the code as it means then you spit the cake out. A Sith will eat the cake and then try to take from others their cake. I think I can taste the cake and allow it to be. Understanding what it is and then letting it go. Controlling my reaction to the cake."
"The cake is the dark side?"
"No Ahsoka it is any emotion you feel."
"What is going on? Are we all leaving?"
"Not all. Those who understand what is going on is either staying or leaving. You and other younglings are caught in the middle."
"Are you leaving?"
"Yesterday I would have said I never could think to leave. Today I did. I am no longer a member of this Jedi Order."
"You are leaving like everyone else. Will there be any masters left? Will I just be sent to the Service Corps?"
"I do not think so. I believe that all Jedi will be called back to the Temple. They will be asked to go through the trials and those that agree and pass will then be made knights."
"Didn't they fail before?"
"Yes and no. They just were not strong enough to be knights or they had strengths that were better served in the corps."
"So I still might not become a padawan."
"Do you want to be a padawan?"
"Yes I do. I want to help people and keep the peace, but I am almost fourteen."
"You got an extension?"
"Master Plo said he was going to ask for it, but with Jedi leaving I don't I will get it."
"Hmm, I see. I think I have a solution."
"You do master?"
"I do, but I am not sure you want to go where I go?"
"Are you asking me to be your Padawan learner?"
"Depends on whether you will ask me to be your teacher?"
"Teacher?"
"Master is a title of rank. I don't think I should use a title. Better to use something I want to do and that is to teach. Do you want to be my student, Ahsoka Tano?"
"I will learn everything a Jedi does?"
"I am a Jedi whether or not I am in the Jedi Order. You will learn everything I can teach you, and there will be others."
"Other masters?"
"Yes I taught Jenica Lour I am sure she will teach you as well."
"I like her where is she?"
"Should we go find out, student?"
"Yes, teacher." In the past Obi Wan would just lightly if at all touch her back to guide a padawan forward. Now he offered her his hand and she took it. Hours later they left together in a small hyperspace capable ship.