Left Behind

Sabine / Lothal

Ezra would be proud, Sabine Wren thought as she gazed at the sun glinting off the tall buildings that made up Lothal's Capital City. Their crew worked to drive out the Empire. The citizens of Lothal, inspired by their heroic actions, took a stand and held the planet secure, not allowing the Empire to return.

They proved the Rebellion could work. Ezra showed them that, she thought with a slight smile. Sometimes, it only took one person to make a difference.

A spark that would light the fire of Hope and drive away the darkness.

She sighed as she leaned against the railing. It had been nearly ten years now since he disappeared with Thrawn and the purrgil. Since they liberated Lothal.

Hera said it would get easier.

Sabine wondered if Hera told her that to make her feel better, or to make herself feel better after Kanan's death.

Well...so far, it wasn't getting any easier.

The heartache was still there after all these years. The emptiness only seemed to grow with each passing year that he didn't come home.

She left the vista behind her as she went back inside. This was once one of Ezra's hideouts. She left all of his things exactly the way he left it before he went away. She picked up the stormtrooper scout helmet and held it tightly against her chest as she gazed around the room. Here, surrounded by all the things he loved to collect, she felt closer to him.

She held the scout's helmet up before her and gazed into its darkened lens. "Why didn't we have more time?" she wondered aloud.

Carefully, she put the helmet back in its spot before pulling out a holo disc. She loaded it and hit play.

Ezra's holo image flickered to life before her.

A burning sensation sat behind her eyes. She paused the holo video feed to study his smiling face. It had been so long. I can't do that right now. I have to be strong. She steeled herself with a deep cleansing breath, then resumed the playback.

"C'mon, Sabine...think." Her fingers tapped a fast rhythm against her thigh in agitation. "There's got to be something I missed, but what is it?"

Ezra's voice filled the room. "If you're watching this recording, then I owe you an explanation."

"You can say that again."

"There were several paths in front of me. While this wasn't the one I wanted to take, it's what I had to do. That's something Kanan taught me."

That struck a chord within her. She paused the holo vid, and began pacing while she thought back to one of their last conversations before everything went crazy.

Before he vanished and left her behind.

"Sabine, I know it sounds crazy! I mean, c'mon! I probably wouldn't believe me too, but I saw it with my own eyes! It's real. I don't know how to describe it. It's like, uh, a world between worlds, full of all these gateways...portals. And, I used one! To save Ahsoka! She's alive! I could have saved Kanan too, but…"

His voice trailed off as he stared out into the darkness of the cave's interior.

"But, what?" Sabine asked. "If you could have saved him, why didn't you?"

Ezra looked down and lifted a pebble with the force before letting it drop. "Ahsoka said that if I saved him, I would change things. She said I had to learn to let go." His expression was haunted as he turned to her. "I mean, I know she was right. I knew...I knew that was what he had been trying to tell me all along. That was his final lesson. I didn't want to - I." His voice cracked as he swallowed hard.

Sabine placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "It's okay, Ezra. It's okay."

Angrily, she brushed away the tears with the back of her hand. "Well, I'm not Ezra. I'm not just going to let go! There's got to be something I've missed here. There has to be!"

She swallowed down her grief as she hit play and the holo recording resumed.

"I'm going to miss you all. Zeb, you can have the top bunk back. For now. Hera, I, uh...I left a meiloorun in your cabin. I hope it's still your favorite. Sabine-"

She paused in her pacing, wishing he was here. Wishing that he would have just told her instead of being so cryptic!

"...don't forget. I'm counting on you. I couldn't have wished for a better family. I can't wait to come home."

It was the same damned thing he had said to her right before he left.

She slammed her hand down on the holo vid player. Ezra's image flickered out. "Arrgggh! What am I missing?!"

...don't forget - I'm counting on you.

A memory rose up. A large stone. Gold markings etched into the rock's face. Three hands: one closed, one firm and one open.

Lines that resembled a star map.

Sabine gasped.

The portal...the mural… It's art, Ezra. Everything has a meaning, she told him.

Sabine froze in the middle of the room as the memory of their conversation echoed in her head.

"I saved her! I know it sounds crazy, but it's true! I pulled her out right before Vader was about to strike her down! I pulled her through the portal."

The doorway of the wolf portal from the temple flashed before her eyes.

Was that it?

Was Ahsoka the key?

"That's it!" She grabbed an empty pack and began loading up her gear. "I've gotta get a hold of Rex! If anyone has heard from Ahsoka, it'll be him! Find Ahsoka, so we can figure out how to use the portals and bring him home."

#

Ahsoka / Planet Lehon

Ahsoka Tano sat in quiet meditation at the top of the ancient temple. She felt a slight tremor through the Force. So subtle she almost missed it. Her brow line furrowed together as she concentrated on the ripple she felt in the Force.

What was it?

Or who was it?

Faces wavered before her through the force.

Sabine Wren.

Ezra Bridger.

Her eyes opened with a snap.

There was no such thing as coincidences when it came to the Force.

Everything was lining up.

The information she had been gathering about the portals, and how to use them. Morai had helped her along the way, sending her gentle nudges through the Force to guide her way.

She left the temple behind as she entered her ship, a large red and white T-6 shuttle. It was time to return to Lothal, and find Ezra Bridger.

It was time to bring him home.