The tattered cloak of the masked figure billowed in the scorching Mustafarian breeze. Yet in spite of the fearsome heat, a frightening cold settled over Ahsoka. This wasn't Anakin. It couldn't be Anakin. But the face visible behind the crack in the mask was unmistakable. Her master had survived- now an agent of the Sith.

"So this is the presence the Force guided me to. Two failed apprentices- made outcasts for your weakness."

As much as Ahsoka wanted to respond, she couldn't. The terror and the despair had all coalesced into a physically painful lump in her throat, rendering her unable to give voice to even the simplest of her swarming thoughts. Maul, however, had no such reservations, lowering his lightsaber to a guard position.

"Weakness? You speak of weakness when this mutilated, sorry display is all that remains of Sidious' prized pupil?" he said mockingly, as a sinister grin spread across his face. "And here I heard that the mighty Anakin Skywalker was all but unconquerable in battle... What a disappointment for my master you must be."

"Bold words, coming from you of all people- a pathetic, broken shadow of a former Sith. Surrender now, and perhaps you will be granted a merciful death."

Maul burst into a fit of hysterical laughter at the monster's words.

"You think your theatrics frighten me ?! Naive, foolish child - I know what you really are, behind that mask. You're a frightened boy. Nothing more. If anyone ought to surrender, it should be you. I doubt a pawn like yourself would be able to put up much of a fight… and we are two. You're outnumbered."

Without flinching an inch, the monster's response came.

"Outnumbered? Perhaps. But not outmatched."

The monster drew the stolen lightsaber from his belt and ignited the brilliant blue blade.

Maul surged forward, delivering a blisteringly fast flurry of strikes with his saberstaff. But while Maul's assault was vicious and unrelenting, a terrifying storm of blurred red, the monster's defence was surgical and precise. Their movements were measured and efficient, effortlessly holding back the onslaught. A powerful slash of blue clashed against Maul's blade, leaving him momentarily stunned, before the monster rushed forwards in an attempt to strike at the still unmoving Ahsoka. Seemingly by magic, the former Jedi's instincts kicked in as she snapped out of her terror, ignited her blades, and deflected the attack. She then slashed down with both sabers, only to be met with an unbreakable guard. With their back now exposed, Maul attempted a strike from behind- playing right into their hands. In one fluid motion, the monster pushed Ahsoka back, breaking the blade lock, before unleashing a devastating Force push, throwing Maul off the landing platform down to the scorched surface below.

A single blue eye fixed itself back on Ahsoka as she staggered to her feet with her blades raised.

"Anakin, you-"

"That name no longer has any meaning to me."

The blue blades clashed.

"Anakin Skywalker was weak," spoke the monster. "And whatever part of him still lives shall die with you."

Using both of her sabers as contact points, Ahsoka sprung herself off of her assailant's blade and landed behind them.

"I know this wasn't your choice! You're being controlled! The Anakin I knew would never turn against the Jedi, he- he... "

"Skywalker was a pawn of the Jedi Council. He was used, and when he ceased to be useful, it was the Jedi who turned against him,"

Now Ahsoka was on the defensive- weathering blow after blow, each struck with power and purpose. This was a war of attrition. And she was losing.

"The Jedi wouldn't do that! They were your- they were our family!"

"Yet the only person they truly served was themselves. It was the Jedi who pushed the galaxy towards oblivion. But through your death, their wrongs will be made right. The last remnants of Skywalker shall be vanquished."

Ahsoka sprung backwards, out of the Sith's range, and closed her eyes. The calm but foreboding peace she'd once sensed in the Force had given way to a violent and terrifying storm. A part of Anakin still lived- that much was certain- but his bright, inspiring presence had been twisted into something wretched and malevolent. She pushed deeper, delving into the tumultuous ocean of the Sith Lord's mind.

Suddenly, she was in the Chancellor's office, watching as the unmistakable figure of Mace Windu towered over Palpatine, purple saber holding back a devastating torrent of lightning spawned from the old man's fingertips. Seconds later, the lightning vanished, and Mace prepared a killing blow. Ahsoka's body- Anakin's body- acted with a life of its own, igniting their weapon and slashing off the Jedi's hand before the strike could make contact. Mace cried out in pain, and in an instant, more lightning sprung from Palpatine's fingertips, more powerful and dangerous than before. The Jedi was thrown from the office and cast down to the city below.

Ahsoka blinked, and found herself elsewhere, at the head of a battalion of clones, They advanced forwards with rhythmic precision, ascending the all too familiar stairs of the Jedi Temple. Paralysing dread spread through Ahsoka as she tried to stop her advance- but this was not her body and these were not her memories. She was powerless, forced to observe as the battalion reached the top of the stairs. Forced to watch as the body outside of her control slaughtered the entrance guards with ruthless efficiency, before entering the darkened halls.

It was all too much. Fires raged throughout the once proud building, accompanied by the sound of blasterfire, sobs, and screams. The sulfurous, almost metallic smell of burned flesh was sickeningly strong, pervading the chaotic clash of clones and Jedi. Ahsoka watched as the blue blade was turned on the very people it had once protected, cutting through Masters, Knights, and Padawans with a disgusting elegance. These couldn't be Anakin's memories. Surely Anakin would never be capable of such evil. But she could not ignore what her eyes were showing her as the relentless advance continued.

The doors to the Council Chamber slid open, revealing a group of Younglings taking cover behind the Council's chairs. As one of them stepped forward, Ahsoka tried desperately to stop the inevitable. She wanted to scream. She wanted more than anything to warn the children of the monster standing before them. But she could only observe.

"Master Skywalker! There are too many of them! What are we going to do?!"

A hand moved to ignite the blue blade.

"...please… no…"

Ahsoka was powerless to stop it. Guilt and fear swallowed Ahsoka whole as she watched the children be cut down, one by one.

"...make it stop..."

Some cowered and some ran. Some screamed and some hid.

"...please… make it stop…"

It made no difference. By the time she was able to sever the connection, Ahsoka had witnessed the slaughter of every last one of them.

As the connection shattered, she saw flashes- scattered fragments- of what little remained of her master.

"You were the Chosen One!"

"You're fulfilling your destiny, Anakin."

"It was said that you would destroy the Sith!"

"A powerful Sith you will become."

"You were my brother Anakin!"

"You shall be known as Darth…"

"Vader," whispered Ahsoka under her breath as she snapped back to reality. The monster had a name. Vader. Ahsoka's eyes narrowed and her grip on her weapons tightened. The Jedi had always warned of the very thing Ahsoka was feeling. But right now, she didn't care. The horrors she'd witnessed in the monster's memories had silenced that voice at the back of her mind, silenced the voice advising caution and restraint. Vader had destroyed everything. Vader had taken everything from her. For the first time since Mortis, Ahsoka allowed hatred to swallow her whole.

"You …" Ahsoka muttered, her voice shaky and her breathing ragged. "I'll destroy you!"

She rushed towards Vader with blades ignited, and struck at him with uncharacteristic brutality. Caught by surprise, a single strike slipped through the Sith Lord's guard and glanced his shoulder, before he retaliated with an attack of his own. Crossing her sabers, Ahsoka blocked.

"Such anger… such hatred. You saw, didn't you?" said Vader. "It was the remnant of Skywalker which allowed you to make that connection."

With all her strength, Ahsoka pushed Vader's saber back, before tearing a chunk of metal from the platform and throwing it at the Sith. Vader reacted near instantly, cleaving through the metal as it approached. Tiny bits of molten metal hissed as they bounced harmlessly off the black armour.

"No matter. His weakness shall soon be purged."

Letting out a furious scream, Ahsoka thrusted forward with both sabers. Vader swiftly sidestepped, grabbing both of her wrists with a single, indomitable grip. The grip tightened until she dropped both sabers, screaming in pain as she drew on the Force to discharge a shockwave. Vader's grip released as he was thrown backwards. But it did not stop him for long. Just as Vader recovered, rushing forwards to strike the now unarmed Ahsoka, she channelled all of her power through her hands towards Vader with a singular purpose- destruction. Her fingers tensed as she directed the Force to crush the Sith Lord outright. And for a time, it seemed to work.

"You could have made a powerful Sith. You embrace the darkness… yet you call yourself a Jedi."

Pressed to the ground by unimaginable weight, Vader collapsed to his knees.

"I… am no… Jedi…" Ahsoka responded through gritted teeth, intensifying her focus.

"...Indeed. Perhaps there is hope for you yet."

Despite her best efforts, she could not keep the Sith Lord pinned. Vader rose, taking one slow, purposeful step towards her.

"I offer you one chance for survival. Join me, and with our powers combined, we shall destroy the Emperor and claim the galaxy for ourselves."

"Never… I'll never… never… fight by your side again."

The Sith Lord took another step forward.

"After everything we've been through… after you fought for them for years…"

Another step. Ahsoka's rage faltered as despair took hold. A single tear streamed down her face.

"You turned on them. Slaughtered them. Betrayed them."

Another step. Ahsoka closed her eyes, bracing herself for the end. There was nothing she could do. The anger that had fuelled her was gone, leaving her completely hollow.

"You betrayed me."

With that, she collapsed to her knees, her strength depleted. Vader loomed over her, saber ignited, for several seconds. And for a time, there was silence- barring the hum of the monster's blue blade and his rhythmic, robotic breathing.

"What are you waiting for?" muttered Ahsoka. "Just… end it."

A moment of hesitation later, Ahsoka's eyes went wide as Vader stabbed her through the stomach.

Just before the world went dark, she caught a glimpse of the weapon that had been her executioner. For as the Sith Lord pulled the saber from Ahsoka's chest, he saw not the bright blue blade of a Jedi he had wielded mere moments ago. He saw the sinister crimson saber of a Sith Lord, anointed with his Padawan's blood.

The last remnants of Skywalker were gone- consumed by Darth Vader.