Chapter 5 – Festival of Light
Author's Note: Thank you all so much for reading, favoriting, following, and/or reviewing this story! I hope that y'all enjoyed it! ^-^
Also, credit for Amatakka and the Tatooine Slave Culture goes to their creator, Fialleril. :)
~ Amina Gila
It's been over a year since Tatooine left the Republic, and Anakin hasn't had many dealings with the Jedi in all the time that he's been gone, so he's admittedly surprised when he gets a call from the Jedi Council itself.
Obi-Wan is there too when he accepts the call from Yoda and Windu.
"Need your assistance, we do," Yoda declares.
"With what?" Anakin asks.
"We may be willing to assist, as long as it won't drag us into the war," Obi-Wan adds.
"We've uncovered a plot by a criminal named Moralo Eval. We have him in custody, but it is likely that his plot has already been set into motion. We believe Dooku may be behind it."
"What do you want us to do?" Anakin frowns. It's strange that the Council is asking him to do something for them, when the Outer Rim Alliance hasn't been working with the Jedi for a long time.
"We need someone who can get into contact with Eval and try to see what he was planning. A bounty hunter who he'd trust to hire," Windu explains.
"And a Jedi can't do that?" Obi-Wan asks.
"We considered having a Jedi go under disguise as a bounty hunter, but the risk is great and there's no one who can fill the role properly."
"You want us to be an intermediary, so he believes he's working for us?" Anakin inquires. It's... smart thinking, he grudgingly admits. Apparently, sometimes the Council can be smart. "Is there anyone you had in mind?"
"It has to be someone with a notable reputation already. We would suggest Jango Fett, but the choice is yours."
**w**
Since Jango is giving all his reports to Anakin under the belief that that's who he's working for, he's fully informed on what's going on; he has been calling the Council regularly to give them updates on the mission.
Anakin wasn't entirely expecting Jango to report back that he's now inside Dooku's castle, but since he's already there, giving him another side mission shouldn't hurt. As long as he's careful about it, anyway.
It's the perfect opportunity, really, to try and figure out who Sidious is.
It's risky, but he knows Jango can do it. He's not one of the best bounty hunters out there for nothing, and his mental shields are better than most, so as long he's careful what he thinks about whenever he's around Dooku, the Count shouldn't get suspicious. Hopefully.
It's sometime later, in the middle of the night, when Jango sends a rushed transmission again. "I identified numerous transmissions the Count is receiving from Coruscant, all from the same person who initially sent me after you initially." He sends over a holographic recording of the hooded figure next.
Anakin frowns as he studies the image. For some reason, he looks very familiar, though Anakin can't quite place why. Or maybe he can, but it's too outlandish to consider.
"I also discovered him sending Dooku a bunch of highly classified Republic military intel," Jango reports, detailing a little on what he found before he has to end the call.
"No one should be able to access to this kind of information except for a Council member. Or..." Obi-Wan trails off, exchanging a worried look with Anakin.
"Yes, or the Chancellor or of his top aides," Anakin concurs, expression grim.
And it's perfectly obvious that the Sith in the hologram recording is not Mas Amedda, or any of the others that they know about. Probably.
"We can try facial and voice recognition," Anakin proposes, after a moment. At least it will give them a small measure of confirmation, if nothing more.
In truth, he's not even surprised when it comes up with a very high match on both accounts.
Palpatine is Sidious.
He's the one who tried to have Anakin killed after he took over Mandalore and ruined the Separatists plans.
He's been giving Dooku information about the war and playing both sides from the beginning.
It... makes so much sense; there's obviously so much planning that's gone into it, Anakin could almost be impressed. Actually, the only one he's truly impressed with is Jango for managing to get ahold of the information without being caught.
"We need to inform the Council," Obi-Wan declares, gravely.
"If they do anything against him, they'll be guilty of treason," Anakin points out. He can only hope that they'll be smart enough to keep that in mind before they come up with a plan.
And speaking of that, another thought promptly hits him.
"We have bounty hunters 'kidnapping' Palpatine for whatever plan he has in the works," Anakin murmurs, "Maybe Jango's finger can slip and... all problems will be solved."
"He'd sense it coming," Obi-Wan points out.
"Not if he was drugged or something," Anakin murmurs contemplatively, "But the Jedi should be able to help."
"Yes, and we'll have to be ready to fight at as well," Obi-Wan replies. "This may be the only opportunity we get."
Anakin nods firmly.
It's a very risky plan and they still need to go over way more details of it, but it might be the only chance they get to stop Sidious. Anakin doesn't know what the Sith Master is planning and he doesn't care to find out. It's nothing good. In the end, it's ultimately his fault that Qui-Gon was killed as well, and he's the one behind the war. It will be... justice.
**w**
"Remember to stay focused on the mission," Plo Koon reminds Ahsoka again as they head down the ramp of the shuttle, out into the Theed landing platform. She's accompanying him here, because her own master is on a topic secret mission somewhere that she didn't get to hear the details about, likely until she gets back.
"Of course, Master," Ahsoka chirps, with barely contained excitement. It's been so long since she last got to see Padme. And Anakin if he's even here.
So much has changed. The Republic has been experiencing serious losses and while she's not happy that Tatooine and Naboo decided to leave the Republic but thinking back to the conversations she'd had with Anakin and his unhappiness about the war and using the clones, she supposes it's not surprising.
And... it's going to be interesting to be in neutral space for the first time in a long time. She doesn't know how to feel about the fact that there's going to be Separatists here, though. Neutral or not, she can't trust them.
As they and the rest of the Jedi who are here accompany Palpatine get off the shuttle – he's here because Naboo is still his own planet, after all, even if it's no longer part of the Republic – the Queen and Padme herself are waiting.
Ahsoka waits until all the formal greetings are over before she splits away, hurrying over to Padme. "It's good to see you again, Senator," she greets, excitedly.
"Ahsoka!" Padme exclaims happily. "I wasn't expecting you to be here."
"We're here for security, technically," Ahsoka points out, looking around as they walk, "I've never seen the Festival of Light before. It sounds like a big event."
"It is," Padme agrees, "Our leaving the Republic has made this no less meaningful. I'm glad you were able to come."
"Is Anakin around?" she wonders hopefully.
"He is. I can take you to see him now." Padme leads her into the palace, leaving her outside the room where he is and hurrying off to deal with greeting other guests.
Ahsoka hesitates a moment before entering. "Ahsoka!" Anakin exclaims, turning.
"Anakin!" Ahsoka greets, all sense of formality evaporating instantly. She darts across the room, throwing her arms around him.
"It's good to see you again, Snips," Anakin murmurs, slipping an arm around her.
"I missed you," she admits.
"I did, too," Anakin replies, "I'm glad you're okay." She supposes he would've had no real way of knowing if she was all right, out there on the battlefield.
"I wasn't sure when I'd see you again," she murmurs, gripping him tighter. She can't explain what he is to her, but... in many ways they're closer than she's been with any Jedi at the Temple. It's been so long since they last saw each other, but now that they're together again, it doesn't feel like anything has really changed.
"I'd offer you a place back on Mandalore or Tatooine with me," Anakin says teasingly, "But I don't think that's an option."
"I'm part of the Order. I don't need to be adopted, but... I would love to be there," she admits. For a fleeting moment, she almost wishes she could agree. Her whole life she's been a Jedi, but sometimes... Well, she has questions. Still, she's never known anything else so it's a moot point. She wouldn't have anything anymore, if she left.
"If you ever chance your mind, you know you'll always be welcome. How's Rex?" Anakin inquires.
"He's doing fine," Ahsoka assures him, and she admits it's mildly touching that that's one of the first things he asked.
They start walking through the halls of the palace, as they talk.
"I always hoped I'd get to see the palace one day," she comments.
"Yes, I imagine you find it a lot more impressive than the one on Tatooine," he says dryly.
"Are you seriously asking me to insult your home?"
"I was only observing that you seem to be much more in awe here."
"I suppose things can't really be built for beauty on Tatooine." She pauses in her tracks when she sees a few of the people up ahead who she knows aren't Republic. "They're Separatist, aren't there?" Ahsoka asks.
"They are," Anakin agrees, "Why?"
She shrugs. "I can't imagine they'll be eager to run into a Jedi here."
"It's a given since the Chancellor of the Republic is here," Anakin points out, "I don't think they'd mind meeting a Jedi as much as you might expect."
"Maybe," she says, doubtfully.
"Why don't we find out?" he proposes, moving forwards. She follows him slowly, only half certain if this is a good idea. The only Separatists she's met have been trying to kill her, after all. It would be weird to meet one who isn't.
"Hey, Lux," Anakin calls, approaching a boy who looks to be around her age.
"Senator Skywalker!" Lux replies, perking up.
"You are a Senator?" Ahsoka blurts dubiously.
"My mother is," he corrects, eyeing her, "Are you a Jedi?"
"Yeah, I am," she agrees, a little stiffly, "Why do you ask?"
"Before the war, I always told the Jedi were good," Lux replies.
"And now?" she asks, a little warily. She has a pretty good idea where this is going.
"I don't know," he admits, "There's a lot of terrible things happening, a lot of killing. And now my friends are saying the Jedi are to blame."
She can't help but feel a flare of anger. The Jedi are not the ones responsible for the war. "I'm the first Jedi you've ever met, aren't I?" she challenges. And hey, where did Anakin go? He must've left when they were in the middle of talking. She'll go track him down later.
"Well, yes," Lux admits.
"Look at me," she chirps, crossing her arms and staring pointedly at him, "I'm not so bad, am I?"
"No, not bad at all," he answers lightly, staring her up and down.
She rolls her eyes, letting out a groan. "It seems boys are the same whether they're Separatists or Republic."
She turns to walk away, but Lux calls after her. "Wait!"
"Yeah?" she asks, looking back.
"How many Separatists have you actually met?"
"What?" She's literally been fighting them for the past two years!
"I mean, you think we're all the bad guys, but how many of us have you actually met? And droids don't count."
Well, now that he mentions... "Other than military officers like Grievous and Ventress... you're the first, I guess."
"So, am I so bad?" Lux asks, and he's totally throwing her own words back at her, but she can see his point.
"I know there's... many sides to this war," Ahsoka concedes, "I suppose assuming all Separatists would be like Grievous and Ventress is a rather biased view."
"That's why I don't blame individual Jedi for the war," Lux replies, "Even if I don't know what to think about them as a whole."
She doesn't have any longer to continue the conversation because Plo comes to find her. It's time to prepare for the celebration that evening and get into their positions. Maybe she'll have more time to talk to Anakin again later.
**w**
"Here. You'll need this."
Anakin frowns at the proffered lightsaber hilt before raising his gaze up to look at Obi-Wan who's standing opposite him. "No thanks," he replies lightly, patting the two blasters strapped to his hips, concealed by his dark Senatorial robes. "I've got these."
Obi-Wan gives him a flat look, one filled with both fondness and exasperation. "Anakin... you can't go up against a Sith Lord with only a blaster."
"Why not?" Anakin demands, crossing his arms. He is absolutely not pouting. Senators don't pout. Besides, he's twenty-one. He's an adult.
Obi-Wan looks up at the ceiling for a moment as if praying for patience. "Because," he answers, carefully enunciating each word, "He's a Sith Lord."
"You're a Sith Lord," Anakin rebuts defiantly. "I've fought you with my blasters before, and I've won every single time."
"I'm not as powerful as Sidious is," Obi-Wan deflects. "Even Dooku is far weaker than he is, and he was one of the strongest Jedi I heard of. I don't know how this is going to end up turning out, but we won't have any second chances."
"I know," Anakin agrees, giving in and taking the hilt, concealing it in his robes. He might have made the lightsaber, but he prefers his blasters. At least no one will question why a Senator is an expert marksman.
A Senator using a lightsaber, on the other hand, will definitely raise eyebrows. He would much rather not let anyone know how powerful he is, even if Ahsoka and Rex already know he's been trained. That was why Obi-Wan first taught him how to build impenetrable shields. No one can sense even a fraction of his true Force sensitivity. That's going to be especially important for when they confront Sidious – if things come down to a duel. It's likely the Jedi will start to realize how strong he is, but... That might just be the price of taking down the Sith.
Obi-Wan's face is filled with satisfaction when Anakin complies. "Now, let's review the plan."
Anakin sighs, rising and stretching as he paces to the window, looking out at the Nubian countryside. Being here for the Festival of Light is... It's a moment for them to acknowledge that life goes on and that they can still celebrate despite the tragedies occurring all throughout the galaxy. He can't wait until the Chancellor is dead. That sneaky, manipulative bastard has been in control for far too long. What they need is to remove him from the equation, and Anakin is more than willing to take treasonous means, if it will guarantee the safety and peace of the galaxy as a whole. (To be fair, if he isn't part of the Republic, it isn't exactly treason anyway.)
Finally, he turns back towards Obi-Wan. "Ipa," he sighs, "I know what the plan is." He pushes ahead before Obi-Wan has time to interject. "Once Palpatine has been taken by the bounty hunters, Jango will finish him, unless he doesn't die, in which case we'll get down there."
Obi-Wan chuckles slightly. "Yes, I would be surprised if you didn't remember, but you have to let me worry about you sometimes, Anakin."
He can't quite hide the small smile on his face or the surge of warmth and love that rush through him. Impulsively, Anakin reaches out and tugs Obi-Wan into a fierce embrace. He doesn't want to admit how terrified he is that he'll lose his father during a potential fight against Sidious. The bond between them is frightening strong – even Shmi has commented on it – and Anakin is quite certain that he'll lose his mind entirely if Obi-Wan is taken from him. But then again, he's incredibly protective over all of his loved ones, having lost so many friends during his childhood.
Obi-Wan exhales audibly, wrapping his arms around him in turn, holding him comfortingly as Anakin presses his face against Obi-Wan's shoulder. "I'll be alright, vikka," he whispers – his right hand rubbing Anakin's back comfortingly. Vikka is the Amatakka word for child, son in his case, an endearment which Obi-Wan has used almost as soon as he learned what it meant. He can't know that, but the words are reassuring, and Anakin lets them – and the feel of Obi-Wan's body – lull him into a sense of temporary peace.
As Anakin relaxes in his embrace, his thoughts turn to Padme. He hopes she'll understand that he and Obi-Wan are doing what they have to do. They don't have another choice; gathering evidence against Palpatine would be better, but it would also take too long. As least this way, they can make their sacrifice without hurting anyone else. Besides, violence is the only way on Tatooine; it's all Anakin has known. Criminals don't deserve to be arrested and tried, especially for heinous crimes. They only get the death penalty. It's what Obi-Wan believed too, which is the only reason their planet is as stable as it is.
**w**
Obi-Wan would be lying if he said he wasn't on edge as the festivities for the evening begin. This is it, the moment that they'll have to try and kill Sidious. He tries to keep his mind focused on other things, though, since he's literally in the Sith's presence right now. He doesn't need to sense that something about this plan isn't as he intended. Likely, he has already, though. They need to be ready for it.
Tuning out Palpatine's ridiculous speech, he glances around the area again. There's quite a few Jedi here, and they're all prepared for the same thing.
Meanwhile on the far side of the galaxy, other Jedi have been dispatched to deal with Dooku simultaneously. It should all be over soon. In the end, he supposes it's only a question of who's going to make it out alive.
He throws a glance over at Anakin again, where he sits next to Padme, Ahsoka standing near them. Anakin will be fine, he's certain, but he can't help but worry regardless.
The speech finally comes to an end, and fireworks go off in the sky far above them, lighting the area. Nearly everyone's gazes are rooted on them, and that's when Obi-Wan finally catches sight of the movement on the far side of the ray shielded platform.
"The shield generator!" Master Plo calls urgently, as a long tentacle-arm penetrates it.
Shaak Ti instantly springs into motion, racing across the clearing towards it, but the generator promptly explodes, the shield over the platform vanishing. Almost everyone immediately goes into a panic, and the security start trying to safely evacuate everyone.
Obi-Wan pushes his way through the dispersing crowd, over to the designated meeting spot with Anakin. Not far away, he can see the bounty hunters throwing a "Senate guard" into the back of a speeder, and taking off with him, even as the Jedi gave chase.
Anakin is already there at the waiting speeder and fires it up the moment Obi-Wan is inside, zooming away across the Nubian landscape. The faster they get to the rendezvous point the better.
The speeder finally races through the trees, right in time to see Bane dragging Palpatine out of the back of his speeder and dumping him very unceremoniously on the ground. It's maybe a little too satisfying to see, even if it is Sidious who's letting them treat him like that. For now.
"We have incoming," warns Jango as they race in through the trees. Obi-Wan can hear the sound of engines a distant behind, indicating the Jedi will be here shortly.
"Stop or we kill him," Bane warns, aiming a blaster down at Palpatine's head.
Jango fires.
For the barest second, Obi-Wan dares to hope that this is going to work. But he can't tell from here because he can't clearly see everything thanks to the angle and –
The next thing he knows, the bounty hunters go flying back from a Force shove, and Palpatine is climbing to his feet. He's still shielding as heavily as ever, but still, something shifts in the Force around him. And that dark look in his eyes as he turns to face Anakin and Obi-Wan sends an involuntary chill through him.
They're first plan failed and in truth he finds he isn't too surprised. But now it means they'll have to fight the Sith himself. On the very same planet where it all started, where Qui-Gon was killed by a Sith over ten years ago. He doesn't know if he's ready for this. But it's not himself he's concerned for. It's Anakin. If anything were to happen to him...
The bounty hunters are all aiming their blasters at Palpatine again and he casually flicks his hand, lifting them all in a Force choke. Anakin's lightsaber springs to life in a flash and he throws it at the Sith. Sidious side steps it, but it forces him to release the others in the process.
Obi-Wan immediately ignites his own lightsaber, and Anakin draws the Darksaber. They charge forwards together as two blood red lightsabers spring to life in Sidious' hands. Seriously, does he carry those things everywhere with him?
"You're fools to believe you would actually succeed," Sidious snarls as their blades clash.
"We'll see," Obi-Wan retaliates, shoving back against his lightsaber. He goes onto the defensive as they fight, especially when he quickly begins to realize that for some reason, the Sith's favorite move is an 'I'm trying to stab you through the chest or gut you' motion. It's clumsy and leaves a lot of openings, but nearly impossible to defend against.
As their blades in a furious blur, another speeder zooms up through the trees and Windu, Shaak Ti, and Fisto jump off, running towards them. "In the name of the Galactic Senate of the Republic you are under arrest, Chancellor," Windu warns as the three stalk forwards.
Sidious pulls back out of the fight for a brief moment, to look at them. "It's treason, then," he growls and lunges forwards.
The duel is fast and furious. He's almost impossibly good, and it makes it harder that it's not like all five of them are able to fight him at once. Especially since he keeps ducking out of their way or throwing them off just in time.
Sidious is having a much harder time, though, now that Windu is here helping them.
He ducks away from them again, slashing higher than Fisto can block him, blade stabbing him through the side. Obi-Wan doesn't know if the injury will be fatal, but they don't have time to worry about it.
Shaak Ti is the next to go down. Sidious blasts her right into a nearby tree – practically literally – and she doesn't move to get back up. It's down to the three of them again, against them. Somewhere in the back of his mind, Obi-Wan registers that Eval and Bane have taken off, obviously not wanting to get involved in something like this.
He clashes blades with Sidious again, and the lightsaber grazes across the side of his arm. He jerks back as the burning pain radiates through him. Sidious instantly slashes at him again, far lower than Obi-Wan can block in time – while the Sith continues fending off Anakin with his other hand – and it cuts deeply into his leg.
With a stifled cry, Obi-Wan falls to the ground. Anakin throws up a hand, flinging Sidious back, before giving pursuit alongside Windu. It's just the two of them now, and he doesn't have time for this. He can't leave Anakin completely alone against the Sith, and –
From his position he can't see what's happening either. He doesn't know if that's better or worse. He can't help anymore, and Anakin is fighting Sidious. He could die, and there's nothing Obi-Wan could do about it.
A cry of half-rage, half-pain reaches his ears, and he twists around a little, despite himself, in time to see Anakin stabbing Sidious. And then the next thing he knows, lightning blasts from the Sith hands, throwing both Windu and Anakin to the ground.
No, no – He knows in that moment, that the Sith is trying to kill them before he goes out too, and there's nothing Obi-Wan can do to stop him. And –
There's a flash of armor as Jango blasts into the air above them. Several blaster shots ring out and the lightning just as rapidly ceases.
A ripple seems to run through the Force, and so much of the darkness that's always lingered in the air seems to start dissipating.
It's over.
They won.
He tries to push himself up anyway, ignoring the pain running through his leg. "Anakin?"
"M'fine," the boy groans in a tone that very much implies he is not fine.
He wants to go over to him, but he can't well move in the moment. The least he can do is rest in the silent assurance that the fight is over and they're both alive.
**w**
When Anakin opens his eyes again, it's to somewhere in a medbay.
"Anakin?" Padme asks, looking worriedly down at him.
"Padme?" he coughs, turning his head look around. The ache from being electrocuted is still running through his body, and – He jerks upright, ignoring how his muscles scream in protest.
"What happened to Obi-Wan?" he demands frantically.
"He's fine," another voice – Ahsoka – replies. She's sitting on his other side, and it's... admittedly touching that she decided to wait here for him to wake up.
"He's been treated," Padme responds, frowning, "What happened?"
He slumps back against the pillows, relief running through him. "What did happen?" Ahsoka presses. "The celebration got interrupted and the next thing I know I'm hearing half of everyone is in the medbay!"
"We fought the Sith," Anakin explains, "And... I don't know what happened, actually." Because on second thought, he doesn't even know if the Sith is dead. He'd lost consciousness and... He can't be certain if what he thinks he remembers is real or wishful thinking.
"Hang on!" Ahsoka protests, "What Sith?! And here?!"
Apparently, she hasn't heard anything about it. Not that it's a surprise. They can't exactly let it become common knowledge that they technically murdered the Chancellor. It's better if as few people as possible know anything about it. But Padme and Ahsoka should know the truth. "What happened to Palpatine?" Anakin asks.
A less happy look crosses Padme's face. "He was killed."
Anakin swallows hard. "There's something you should know."
"What?" Ahsoka asks, almost warily.
"He was Sidious." He doesn't know how else to tell them, and getting to the point is probably the best.
For a moment, they both stare at him. "What – how's that possible?" Padme protests at last.
"It makes sense, if you think about it," Anakin replies grimly, "He manipulated his way into the most powerful position in the galaxy and he head control of Dooku from the start. He's been playing both sides of the entire conflict."
"So, you decided to run off Sith hunting and never thought to tell me a word until now?!" Ahsoka demands. (He's pretty sure she doesn't know how to react to the rest of the news, so she's focusing on the other aspects.)
"I wasn't going to take a padawan to go fighting Sith," Anakin says flatly.
"The Council knew about this? Was all of this their plan?" Padme asks, finally finding her voice again.
"We foiled Sidious' plan with one of our own," Anakin explains, "The kidnapping thing was his idea, not ours. But we took advantage of it. Taking him down like this was really the only way."
"Dooku is dead, too," Padme adds suddenly. "I heard the Jedi sent a strike team to break into his castle on Serenno."
Anakin closes his eyes, letting out a sigh of relief. "Good. That means the war will be ending." He scoots to the edge of the bed. "But I want to go see how Obi-Wan is doing now."
"Hold on, you are still recovering," Padme cuts in, giving him a pointed look, "I'm calling the healer to check on you before you're going anywhere."
**w**
"How could you do this? Why would you do this?" Ahsoka demands, standing on the other side of the ray shield opposite her friend.
Former friend.
Can she really call Barriss Offee her friend, after she blew up part of the Temple?!
"I had to make a point, and I didn't know what else to do," Barriss answers quietly.
"And so, you decided to attack the Temple," Ahsoka states, bitterly. She can't believe that this happened, so shortly after they were bringing an end to the war now that both of the Sith are dead. It's only been a couple months.
Barriss looks away. "Why do you think I turned myself in?"
She sighs. She doesn't know how to feel about any of this anymore. The Order is in so much chaos, and more and more she finds that... she wants something else. She doesn't know what but staying in the Order and trying to learn how to be a Jedi in peacetime doesn't – she doesn't know how to do it, even if she knows Aayla would be able to teach her fine.
She has so many questions too, and it doesn't really feel like she belongs here.
**w**
It hardly helps that a lot of Jedi seem to be having issues with the Dark Side – most of them apparently had had interactions with Sidious at some point so it's not really a surprise – and Barriss is one of them. Now that her best friend at the Temple has done this, it's shaken her up even more.
It takes her a couple more weeks before she finally reaches her decision. She doesn't feel like she belongs here anymore, but until Naboo, the thought of leaving was ridiculous and unrealistic. Where would she go, after all? But she knows the answer to that now.
"I'm sorry, Master," Ahoska says quietly, standing in front of Aayla on the Temple steps. She can't believe things have come to this point.
"Are you sure you want to do this, Ahsoka?" Aayla presses.
"I don't feel like this is the place for me," she admits, quietly, "I need to figure things out on my own." She doesn't think sitting back and being 'peacekeepers' will work either, lest the galaxy continue to fall, and she can't stay while the Jedi do that. She needs... time.
"You'll always be welcome here if you change your mind and want to return," Aayla promises.
Ahsoka isn't sure that's completely true though, because... a Jedi leaving the Order is an extreme thing, and to many members often it's seen much like a betrayal. It doesn't matter. She doubts she'll be coming back. She knows where she's going, and once she gets there, she doesn't think she'll want to return.
**w**
"You're planning to stay?" Anakin inquires, surprised. He was serious when he made the offer to Ahsoka, but he wasn't expecting her to actually take him up on it.
"I don't want to go back – assuming you're okay with..." Ahsoka trails off.
"Of course, I am," Anakin promises, "I wouldn't have offered it if I wasn't."
"It's weird to think that you're technically the leader here," Ahsoka comments, moving over to balcony railing of the Mandalorian palace, overlooking the surrounding city.
"Technically, Satine is still the ruler," Anakin points out, "Some of the people just... prefer to see me as the ruler instead."
"You're doing a good job at it," she replies, "Especially with trying to create peace between the Jedi and Mandalorians, even if some Jedi aren't the happiest about the... changes."
"Not all Mandalorians are either," Anakin admits.
Since Mandalore was starting to go back to its previous warrior ways, Anakin had begun to worry – especially with the war going on – that they might end up joining the war, especially against the Republic. He found the simplest solution to it. Requesting the Jedi send their Initiates to spend time on Mandalore was mutually beneficial for both. The Jedi need to spend more time among the people if they will ever be effective.
He hears a sudden movement behind him and looks up to see Rex stepping out onto the balcony behind them.
"Rex?" Ahsoka ask, surprised.
Equal surprise flickers across the former captain's face. "I wasn't expecting to you here, Commander."
"I wasn't either," Ahsoka admits, "And you know, you don't have to call me commander anymore."
"He came here, after leaving. A lot of the clones did," Anakin interjects. And now clan Fett is one of the biggest there is. Jango seemed much too happy with having a ridiculous increase in his number of children (even if Boba is his favorite and everyone respects that), and Anakin suspects someday he might get a little too caried away and demand the Republic turn over the rest of them because 'this is the Way'.
Rex doesn't stay out there for long before leaving again, leaving the two of them alone.
"What happened?" Anakin wonders, "What changed made you want to leave?"
"The last thing was the bombing of the Temple," Ahsoka admits, "The person who did it... She was my friend." There's a pained look in her eyes as she says it, and he can only imagine how she must be feeling, having one of her friends betray her and everything they stood for. It's not something he can relate to.
"I'm sorry," he offers sympathetically, reaching over to rest a hand on her shoulder. It's completely insufficient, he knows, but there's nothing else he can do. He can try to be here for her, to help her heal with time, but healing is much easier said than done. Offering silent support doesn't feel like it's nearly enough, and it doesn't help how Anakin doesn't entirely know what to offer her. A family, perhaps? It's hard to say. She was raised a Jedi, not with a real family.
"I don't know how she could've done something like that," Ahsoka murmurs, "The Order has changed and... maybe not in a good way. I don't know anymore."
"They do need to take a more active role in helping people, not doing what the Republic is telling them too," Anakin agrees. On that note... "Maybe getting to know True Mandalorians will help with that."
"Maybe."
They fall silent for a few moments, while Anakin's mind wanders over the implications of Ahsoka's presence here and what it will mean for both of them. "I can adopt you, if you want," Anakin offers, "You're technically still a minor."
"You could?" she asks, looking up at him in a mixture of surprise and multiple emotions he can't name, on her face.
"I can, if that's what you want."
Ahsoka moves closer almost impulsively, wrapping her arms around him. He slips his arms around her, pulling her close.
"Did I hear something about 'adopting'?" Obi-Wan asks, appearing in the doorway behind them. He's been here a lot recently, especially thanks to his relationship with Satine. They're married now and... Anakin still finds it weird that he technically has two mothers now. Sort of. He doesn't consider Satine a mother or anything, but it's similar in concept.
"You're going to be a grandfather, Ipa," Anakin chirps.
"I'm too young for that," he protests stubbornly.
"Oh, come on, you've known you're going to be one soon from the moment I married."
"This is completely different. I'll have a teenage granddaughter?" he grouses, "I'm only thirty-seven!"
"I do, I think," Ahsoka murmurs, grip tightening, ignoring Obi-Wan's complaints. "Want you to, I mean."
"I'll have to talk to Padme," Anakin declares, "But I'm sure she'll be more than happy to agree."
Ahsoka only gives him an almost shy smile in response, as if uncertain how to respond.
Anakin turns to look out at Mandalore again as the three of them stand side by side, staring out at his... second home. Or third. First Tatooine, then Naboo, and now here. He has a deep connection to all planets now, even if he'll always put Tatooine first.
It's strange to think that Ahsoka will... technically be his first child now. He's always seen her as something of a younger sister, but maybe it will become more than that now.
And if she wants, he'll train her in the Dark Side as well, the same way Obi-Wan trained him.
"Unless something else comes up," Obi-Wan speaks up, "We should be ready to leave for Tatooine again soon."
Anakin nods, smiling faintly.
In the end, Tatooine will still always be his home.
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