Chapter 44 – Aftermath
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Author's Note: In which things wind down to a close... :P
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~ Amina Gila
Back here again, hopefully this time not to hear bad tidings. I glance around the familiar halls of Jedi Temple as we make our way to the Council chambers once more to deliver our report. Sooner than I'm ready for, we're standing in front of the Council.
"When I chased after the bounty hunter who attempted to assassinate the Senator," Obi-Wan reports, "I encountered Dooku and Maul. They took me to Serenno. Sidious was already there. Anakin arrived not long later, and we fought the three Sith Lords. We killed Sidious and Maul and defeated Dooku." Of course, he doesn't mention the part about Anakin's Fall. We all silently agreed never to mention that to anyone, except perhaps Padme when she gets the full story.
Yoda nods his head thoughtfully. "Felt the disturbance in the Force, we did."
"Dooku has agreed to provide the information about the Separatists," Obi-Wan adds.
"Speak to him, we shall," decides Yoda.
Silence falls over the room for several long moments and they seem to be conversing silently.
"Taken off leave you will be," Yoda finally declares.
"Perhaps with this newest development, we will be able to bring a quick end to the war," Windu remarks hopefully.
"We should," I agree. More like, we will. There's no way we couldn't. The Separatists don't want to fight, as I learned when I met Lux. They want to bring an end to the war. Now that Sidious is gone, there's no one to push them. Maybe the talks that should have been held ages ago will finally happen now. And maybe... maybe I'll be able to see Lux again.
**w**
"Something else you wish to discuss, hmm?" asks Yoda from where he sits across from me in his private chamber.
I nod in confirmation. I really need to talk to him about this, although I'm not sure if he's going to listen to me anyway. At the very least it might get him thinking because if something doesn't change, Jedi will continue to Fall, whether the Sith are around or not. Besides, I owe it to Anakin to at least try to get the Jedi to change the rules about attachments. Otherwise, regardless of Sidious' death, when the twins are born, it will raise a serious problem.
"When I was in the future, I came to a realization that the Jedi are not right about everything." When I think about it now, I can't help but wonder if this isn't part of the reason the Force allowed the Jedi to be destroyed. They were practically beyond repair," I begin.
"What mean you by not right about everything?" inquires Yoda, his ears twitching in curiosity.
I take a deep breath, hoping the speech that I've rehearsed over and over in my mind over the past month is actually going to come out the way I intend it to. "There is no Light Side or a Dark Side – there is only the Force. The intention behind the use of the Force is what should matter, not the emotions that are being used. The only way for anyone to be able to achieve proper control of the Force is if they are use all of it, not just use one side. Most of the Jedi fear and shun the Dark Side, which can often lead to them Falling – something that wouldn't be a problem if they were taught how to use the Force as it is, not just the Light Side. If the Order doesn't make changes and become balanced, we'll end up right back where we were before Sidious was killed."
The Force needs to be brought into balance sooner rather than later, and considering the other timeline that I saw, I really don't want to know what will happen if the Jedi don't make any changes.
Yoda nods thoughtfully. "To use the Dark Side without giving in, much control this takes."
I nod. "But it's something we need to change before something can happen again. I think the prophecy of the Chosen One was misinterpreted by both the Jedi and the Sith. Bringing balance to the Force does not only mean destroying the Sith – it means that the Dark and Light Sides need to be used equally. I think that's why the Force brought Anakin to us when it did. He was so different from all of us. He was made to change us; not us to change him."
He hums thoughtfully, ears drooping. "Many mistakes, we have made."
Only now does he admit it, after everything nearly fell apart. Why must it take so much to see the obvious? I don't want to harbor resentment towards him, but in moments like these, I can't help it. They mistreated Anakin terribly, time and time again, and expected it to never backlash on them. They forced him to carry a burden completely alone, one he didn't even want, and continued holding him at impossible standards even while he struggled and never, not once, offering him the help he needed. All he had left was me, and I was going to leave him, too. If I hadn't time-travelled... I don't want to know what would have happened. I don't know all the details of what happened in that timeline, and I really don't want to, but I know the same thing would have happened here.
Silence falls over us for a moment before I finally speak up again. "And there's something else... the rule about attachments," I continue, "There's a difference between love and attachments, but the Jedi have taken the rule to shun love also."
Yoda taps his stick on the floor. "Always allowed love has been – attachment, possession, these are not allowed."
"Pardon my saying so, but the rest of the Jedi seem to have forgotten that," I deadpan. He might understand this – I know he does – but no one else does. And that's why the Jedi Order nearly fell before: because they were too cold and uncaring of everyone.
Silence falls for several moments before Yoga speaks again. "Helped Skywalker greatly, you and Kenobi have, but much to do, there still is. Know I do, what else happened on Serenno." I start slightly. Yoda knows? I suppose I should have guessed. He's the strongest Jedi so he would have felt it.
"Because of this, dangerous attachments are, yet caring for others is all that has kept him a Jedi for this long. Still the ability to try and corrupt him, the Sith could have. Continue to help him bring balance to the Force, you must. Now, meditate on what you have told me, I shall."
"Thank you, Master Yoda," I nod, bowing before leaving the room. Now, time to go find Anakin and Obi-Wan. We should hurry and go see Padme again. She's going to be waiting for us, and she's got to be worried to death.
"Ahsoka?" a familiar voice calls from behind me as I head out of Yoda's chamber, hurrying down the hallway towards Obi-Wan's apartment where I know Obi-Wan and Anakin are waiting for me to show up.
I pause, turning to see Plo standing there. "Master Plo," I greet him, a mixture of emotions surging through me at the sight of him. I've missed him, honestly. Ever since my framing, I haven't said a word to him except for during Council meetings. I miss the days when we were like a family, but it really feels like it's all in the past now.
"It's good to see that you're alright," he says, voice softer than I've ever heard it.
"I've missed you," I murmur, wrapping my arms around him. He rests a hand on my shoulder for a moment.
"I am very proud of you, Ahsoka. You have become a far greater Jedi than I could ever hope to be. You've saved the Jedi Order from destruction and stopped the Sith from destroying the galaxy," Plo continues. Well, that was... unexpected.
My montals darken. "Only because the Force allowed me to see what it did. And I could never have done it if not for Anakin's training."
"Yes," he agrees, "But if not for your strength and determination, you would never have become who you are now." I suddenly feel choked up with emotion. I hadn't realized I'd missed him so much. I don't fully trust him like I did before – and maybe I never will – but I'm willing to give him a chance. He's always been like a father to me, and that's something I don't want to lose again.
"Thank you," I manage to say finally.
"Going somewhere?" he asks as I glance down the hall. I'd like to stay here a little longer, but I really want to go meet up with Padme again. She must be desperate for news.
I nod. "Anakin and Obi-Wan are waiting for me."
"Well, we wouldn't want to keep them waiting," he agrees.
I smile slightly. "See you later, Master Plo," I call as I hurry off down the hall again.
Our ship lands on the landing doc at Padme's apartment not long later. Judging by the other speeders parked there, Padme's here right now. As we disembark from the shuttle, she hurries out to greet us. Threepio follows, and Artoo rolls over to him, beeping wildly in greeting. The two droids head off together, engaged in a conversation no one else pays any attention to.
"Padme!" greets Anakin cheerfully, hurrying over to her. They hug each other tightly before Padme pulls away and walks over to me.
"Ahsoka, it's so good to see you alright!" she exclaims, pulling me into a hug also.
"Don't worry," I chirp, "I learned from that experience never to go hunting Sith Lords on my own again."
"There's no Sith Lords left to hunt," Anakin chuckles.
"Not unless Dooku escapes and goes rogue again," I quip. Let's hope that doesn't happen. I don't know why it would anyway. He has no reason to do that, nothing to gain from it.
"Let's not even joke about it," advises Obi-Wan as Padme motions us into the apartment and we go to take seats in the living room.
"There's already a commotion in the Senate over Palpatine's death," declares Padme, "Even with all of the evidence the Jedi Council has presented, some are still not convinced of his guilt."
"Not even with Dooku's testimony?" I sigh. How much more evidence would they need? I suppose it does make sense for them to be reluctant to believe the leader of the Separatists, but still. What, do we need to go there and testify too? I suppose if it comes down to it, Artoo does have the recording of the whole battle. We're lucky he was sitting right there, because I get the feeling that'll probably be necessary.
Padme shakes her head.
"Probably especially his former pawns who are just trying to cause problems," Anakin grumbles.
"Perhaps having footage of the fight on Serenno would have been useful." Obi-Wan comments.
"It probably would be," Padme agrees.
"Luckily, Artoo was there," I remind everyone cheerfully, "So that won't be a problem."
"It would help if Mas Amedda wasn't the one who took control," sighs Padme, "He always worked very closely with Palpatine. He seemed to know a great deal of what he was planning, come to think of it. An election for a new Supreme Chancellor should be soon."
"Enough about politics," Anakin advises brightly, "How about we celebrate our victory?" Everyone agrees to that.
"I've been thinking that I want to train Luke," I remark randomly as we sit around the table to enjoy a meal together.
Anakin laughs.
"What?" I grumble, giving him a look.
"He hasn't even been born yet, Ahsoka."
"You're getting at least fourteen years ahead of yourself," Obi-Wan points out, looking equally amused.
"Oh no, not you too," I sigh, giving him a fake glare. He chuckles in response.
"I certainly don't mind it if you want to train Luke," Anakin replies, "I doubt I'd be allowed to train my own children, anyway."
"I expect not." Obi-Wan agrees, then smirks. "It wouldn't be a good idea."
"Who would train Leia?" Padme wonders curiously, not really expecting an answer.
"Certainly not me," Obi-Wan states resolutely.
"Well, why ever not, Master?" asks Anakin with a smirk.
"You gave me enough grey hairs already," insists Obi-Wan, and I burst out laughing. I can only imagine the kind of mischief that my master must've gotten into when he was younger. I suppose Luke and Leia growing up together will show me enough.
"Oh, come on, I wasn't that bad," Anakin pouts.
"Tell me that when the twins are old enough to give you headaches nonstop, since I know they will," Obi-Wan retorts.
"Now you're getting ahead of yourself," grumbles Anakin.
"In that case, perhaps you should be the one to train Leia, Master Obi-Wan," I say reflectively, "You have experience with training Skywalkers after all."
"She has a point, Master," grins Anakin.
"Why are we even talking about this in the first place?" Obi-Wan sighs, "Especially considering that we don't even know if Luke and Leia are going to exist."
"What do you mean?" I protest, freezing.
"As Master Yoda always says, 'always in motion, the future is'," Obi-Wan replies, "Just because Anakin had twins named that in the other future doesn't mean he will in this one."
"True enough," I concede, "But for some reason, I feel like that's one thing that isn't going to change." Or at least I hope it won't change, because I simply cannot imagine a life without the twins.
"Actually," Anakin interjects, looking altogether too smug, "There's nothing to debate on whether or not they'll exist." He exchanges a knowing glance with Padme. "They'll probably be born in like... five months from now."