Chapter 19 – Battling the Darkness

It's been over a month since the last update for this story, sorry about that. But, unfortunately I'm very busy and I try to write when I can. I have some ideas to for the upcoming chapters of my stories, but I don't want to rush them and make crappy chapters, so I'll probably be taking somewhat longer than a week per update.

Hope you enjoy the chapter.

;-

Luminara Unduli walked back into her quarters. She had spent the past few hours teaching a class of younglings. Teaching a class of innocent children always did her good. It made her feel better despite being surrounded by war almost every other day. She had a good feeling that the younglings of that clan would amount to great Jedi one day. A few of them would most likely be picked as padawans as soon as they passed their last trials.

She thought about her own padawan. During the lesson Luminara couldn't help but wonder how Barriss was coping. She had faith that Barriss would be able to overcome her problems, but she was still concerned for her.

As she entered their chambers Luminara found Barriss meditating in the living room. She quietly praised Barriss' determination to overcome the Dark Side again. Luminara observed her padawan for a moment. She could sense unease around Barriss; some sweat dripping of her face. She was struggling; Luminara had expected her to. Using the Force, she let her presence be known to Barriss.

The younger Mirialan opened her eyes and looked at her Master. Luminara could see the slight worry in her eyes. She moved towards her and sat down in front of her, crossing her legs and mirroring her position.

Barriss sighed. "It's difficult, Master." She said in a soft voice. "It seems a lot more difficult than it did before."

Luminara nodded in understanding. "I understand Barriss, fighting the Dark Side isn't easy. You already knew that." She replied. "But you can't give in, no matter how dark it may seem to get."

Barriss shook her head. "I won't, Master. You have my word." She said. "I've come too far to give up now."

Luminara smiled. "Good, keep reminding yourself of that promise." She replied. "Now, let's continue, shall we?" she asked. Barriss nodded and they both immersed themselves in the Force. "Don't strain yourself with forcing the Dark away. Focus on the Light, let it fill you and help you banish the Darkness away." Luminara instructed her padawan. "Ask yourself, who you truly are."

Barriss did as her Master instructed and focused on the Light side as best as she could; letting the memories of good times strengthen her resolve.

They kept up their meditation for several hours until Barriss was becoming too tired to continue. She got up and started making her way to her quarters.

"You did well, Barriss." Luminara said, praising her effort. "Keep this up and you'll be back to your old self in no time."

Barriss looked back at her master and smiled. "Thank you, Master." She replied and she stepped into her room.

;-

The next day

Barriss arrived at the Halls of Healing and was about to head inside when the door suddenly opened. She paused to avoid running into a rather startled looking Twi'lek Padawan. She immediately recognized the Padawan as her friend Nyla.

Nyla looked startled and somehow relieved to see Barriss. "Hey there, Barriss." Nyla said. "W-what brings you here?" she asked.

Barriss gave her a questioning look. "I came to visit you, of course." She replied. "So, what are you up to?" She eyed her friend suspiciously. "Are you trying to sneak out of the Halls of Healing?" she asked the Twi'Lek.

Judging from Nyla's quickly darkening face she had guessed it right. Nyla sighed and shook her head. "I kind of lied yesterday when I messaged you." She admitted with a shrug. "I am allowed out of the Halls of Healing for some times, but only with supervision of a Healer. Naria and Alyva helped me sneak out for a while."

Barriss shook her head. "Nyla, you do know that the Healers only want what's best for you?" she asked. "If they say you should only head out with supervision, then do so. It won't help you if you accidentally hurt yourself." She tried to talk some sense into the Twi'Lek. "She's acting quite a bit like Ahsoka; She always had a habit of disobeying her healers too." Barriss thought in amusement.

Nyla sighed. "I know that." She replied. "But I've been stuck in that same room for so long now. I'm start to go crazy if I stay in there for much longer." She said in a slightly irritated tone of voice.

Barriss smiled slightly. "Yep, just like Ahsoka." She couldn't help but think back at her friend for a moment. "And so you were sneaking out again." She stated. Nyla nodded slowly. Barriss shook her head. "Well, fortunately for you, I'm a healer too, remember?" She asked. "Come on, let me write it down that you're with me, otherwise you might get in trouble with Master Che."

Nyla smiled at her. "Thanks Barriss, you have no idea how much I need this." She replied happily.

;-

"Aah, now that´s much better." Nyla said happily as she dangled her feet in the small stream and laid back on the ground. Barriss smiled and sat down next to her. The two of them had gone to the Temple's garden at Nyla suggestion. After being cooped up in the Halls of Healing for such a long time she had eagerly wanted to be around nature a bit. Unfortunately, nature was scarce on Coruscant. But fortunately the Temple had a large garden.

Nyla sighed and relaxed, crossing her arms behind her head. "Oh yeah, how did your mission go?" she asked a moment later.

Barriss looked at her friend. "I suppose it went well enough." She replied. "The Bota was mutating again and the Separatist launched a massive last-ditch assault. Thankfully, I was able to see it coming and we were able to prevent a great casualties."

"Well, that's great isn't it?" Nyla asked with a smile. Barriss nodded slowly. Nyla frowned as she sensed that something was troubling her friend. "Barriss, what's wrong? Did something happen?" she asked slightly concerned.

Barriss stared silently at the small stream in front of them. "I was exposed to the Dark Side again." She replied after a short moment. "I almost failed to recognize it and I almost fell again." She said with regret.

Nyla got up a bit, supporting herself on her hands. "Oh wow, that's pretty heavy." She said. "Are you alright? You didn't get in trouble with the Council or something, did you?" she asked with concern in her voice.

Barriss shook her head. "No, fortunately I'm not in trouble with the Council." She replied. "I'm just having personal issues with the Dark Side again. It's very difficult to resist it. I'm worried about what will happen if I can't overcome it again." She said as she stared at the stream.

Nyla sat upright and looked at her. "Barriss, don't worry too much." She replied. "You're a strong woman. You'll pull through, after all, you've done so before."

Barriss looked at Nyla. "I guess you're right, but…" She said in a somewhat unsure voice.

"But nothing." Nyla interrupted her. "You've already bested the Dark Side once before. You're stronger than you give yourself credit for." She looked Barriss in the eyes. "Quit doubting yourself so much."

Barriss looked at her friend, slightly taken aback by her words. However, she knew that what her friend was saying was true. "Thanks Nyla, I think I needed that." She replied as she took a deep breath.

Nyla smiled at her. "Anytime Barriss, you've done so much for me and so many others as a healer. Don't be worried to ask for help yourself at times. You've more than earned it." Nyla told her.

Barriss smiled as she sensed the honesty behind her words. "You're right, I just…" she paused a moment. "I don't really know why that thought hasn't crossed my mind. I've just been feeling somewhat insecure." Barriss told her as she reflected on her feelings.

Nyla nodded. "My Master once told me that the Dark Side can affect the way you think." She said. "That might be why you haven't thought of it." She shrugged.

Barriss looked at her a moment. "Of course, that has to be it." She thought. She scolded herself a bit for not thinking about it earlier.

Nyla's voice snapped her out of her thoughts again. "But enough of such depressing talk for now, tell me more about your mission. Did you meet any interesting people?" She asked with a smile.

Barriss chuckled a bit. "You have no idea." She replied with a smile.

;-

Barriss and Nyla arrived back at the Halls of Healing about an hour later. Barriss had told her more about the people she had met on Drongar and Nyla had also shared a few stories about interesting people she had met.

Nyla had wanted to stay in the gardens longer, but it was almost time for her medical checkups, so they had returned to the Halls of Healing.

As they entered her room Barriss could easily sense that Nyla's mood went a little downhill. "Don't worry Nyla, I'm sure you won't have to be here for much longer." She said in an attempt to cheer her friend up a bit.

Nyla sat down on her bed. "I know that, Barriss." She replied. "But it just gets so boring in here." She said in a fake tone of annoyance.

Barriss sighed theatrically. "Well, you're just going to have to bear it. Otherwise the Healers will be forced to restrain you in the room." She teased her friend.

Nyla's eyes widened a bit in shock. "Force, please no!" she replied somewhat sarcastically.

Barriss shook her head. "I'll check in on you some other time. See you, Nyla. She told her as she was about to step out of the room.

"Oh Barriss, wait a moment!" Nyla quickly called out. Barriss turned around and looked at her. "I have to perform several physical tests in a couple of days. Naria and Alyva are out of the Temple, unfortunately, but do you think that you can be there with me? It would help me a lot." Nyla asked her.

Barriss smiled and nodded at her. "Sure, I'll help you." She replied. "I'll check in with the other healers to see when you have to start and I'll make sure to be there."

Nyla smiled. "Thanks Barriss. I'll see you then." She said as she laid back on the bed. Nyla sighed as a Healer stepped in a moment later. Barriss gave her a quick wave and left the room.

;-

Anakin Skywalker was sitting in his quarters when he sensed a presence outside his door. He wasn't really looking for company at the moment but went to open the door anyway. "No point in being rude, at least it's not someone of the Jedi Council." He thought.

He opened the door and saw Barriss Offee standing in the doorway. "Good afternoon, Master Skywalker." She greeted him. "Do you mind if I come in?" she asked politely.

Anakin looked at her for a moment. The rumor that she was struggling with the Dark Side again as a result of her mission had gone around the Temple like a wildfire. He hoped that she had the strength to resist it again. "No, of course not. Come in." He replied and stepped aside.

She walked in and he closed the door. Anakin sat down and gestured for her to do the same. "What can I do for you, Barriss?" He asked. He could detect a bit of nervousness in her, like she was afraid to ask it.

Barriss looked at him for a moment. "I hope I don't offend him with this." She thought nervously. "Well," she began. "I just wanted to know if you had heard anything from Ahsoka."

She was a bit surprised by his reaction. She had expected him to be angry or at least grumpy or something; Instead, he smiled slightly. "I actually saw her some time ago." He replied.

Barriss looked at him in surprise. "You have?" she asked. "When was that?" She had not imagined that the would've met again already. His next answer surprised her even more.

"Master Obi-Wan and I were sent to attend the ball on Naboo as extra security." Anakin explained. "Ahsoka was there too. She seemed to be doing quite well for herself. She looked pretty happy."

Hearing that put a smile on Barriss' face, but one thing confused her. "Ahsoka attending a ball? That doesn't really sound like her." She replied amused.

Anakin chuckled a bit. "From what I've been given to understand, her sisters dragged her along." He told her.

Barriss laughed at that. "That does sound like something they'd do." She replied. Anakin looked questioningly at her. "I spoke with them briefly after Felucia, they came when they heard that Ahsoka had been wounded." She explained. "They seemed like great people to me. It's a shame that we had to meet under such circumstances."

Anakin nodded. "I met one of her sisters when she had a meeting with Senator Amidala. The three of them were all present at that ball so we had a chance to talk without any problems." He explained to her. "I was quite surprised to learn that she was living with her family now, but I'm happy that she's somewhere safe."

Barriss smiled. "Yeah, me too." She replied. She knew that there were countless of horrifying things that could've happened to Ahsoka. Knowing that she was safe always made her feel somewhat better.

Anakin's comlink went off a moment later. He looked at it slightly irritated. Barriss got up and bowed. "I'll take my leave now. Thank you, Master Skywalker." She said. Anakin nodded in return and Barriss left his quarters.

;-

That's it for this chapter.

I'll give one little spoiler for the upcoming chapters: Barriss and Ahsoka will be meeting again. Care to guess on which planet? It shouldn't be too difficult if you've read Tale of a Togruta.

The next update I will write will be for Mysterious Ways. I think that there will be three more chapters for that story. I'm not sure how long the next chapter will be, so it might take some time to write.

Until next time.