CLONE WARS IS BACK OH MY GOODNESS THIS IS AMAZING AHHHHHHH.

Did I mention Clone Wars is back?! #inFiloniwetrust.

Hi guys. Sorry for the wait, I was on vacation. AND I LEFT YOU WITH TWO CLIFFHANGERS. I know, I'm evil. But on the plane I watched The Last Jedi, Finding Nemo, and the second half of Rebels Season Four, including Jedi Night and the finale. I also finished the book Bloodline by Claudia Gray. That emotionally wrecked me, so here's an emotianally wrecking chapter for you guys!

This chapter is confusing. Like, really confusing. So at the end, I'm doing a nice little recap. If you guys catch the faint Rebels things in there, it's because we're slowly blending into Seasons One and Two.

IMPORTANT NOTE: You guys might be confused because Rex isn't part of the Rebellion in Season One, but in this story, he has been a part of the Rebellion since the beginning.

Thanks to everyone who reviewed last chapter! I'll be answering reviews once I'm done with the chapter from now on.

Disclaimer: I don't own any aspect of Star Wars, including the animated TV shows. I own only the plot and my original concepts and characters. By the way, THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE TO LEAVE FOR SPOILERS OF REBELS.

(published 7.28.18)

Chapter Sixteen: Disguised Jedi

5 BBY

"Who - who are you?" Luke sputtered, fear coursing through his veins.

The newcomer cocked his head as if it was a simple question. "I already told you. My name is Qui-Gon."

"What are you?"

"Ah, well, I guess you could call me a specter, a kind of ghost," he explained, though it didn't clear things up well.

"A - ghost?" Luke asked, wishing a blaster were at his side. "Does that mean you're…"

"Dead?" he said. "Yes, I am dead. I've been dead for over twenty years."

"Well, how are you able to be here when you are, uh, dead?" Luke asked, hand reaching to a piece of wood in self-defense.

"Oh, it's complicated, and you probably don't want to hear it - "

"No, I do!" Luke yelled, eyes wide, excitement and fear stirring. "Do you know what happened when I touched that cylinder thing? It was so odd, like my eyes were seeing things that I've never experienced."

"Precisely. You saw the Trade Federation's blockade of the planet Naboo, then the man who killed me, the Togruta is named Ahsoka Tano, and that other girl was Rhea Isa," Qui-Gon said. "And the last thing was from your mother's eyes. Your own birth."

Luke's eyes widened in amazement. "My mother? Whenever I asked about her, Dad would say something about her being 'lost.' Did you know her?"

"Indeed I did. A remarkable woman, but that's a story for another time."

Luke suddenly slammed his fist in the ground. "I don't get it. Everyone is being secretive. My father and Ben just keep telling me that I'll find out when I'm older, but when is that? I'm ready to know now!" I'm venting to a ghost.

The older man's face grew slack. "Don't bring your father into this, Luke. He knows better than you think, and Obi-Wan - Ben - as well. You will discover the truth, in time."

He sighed. "Fine. But can you at least explain that?" He jerked his head towards the cylinder.

"Come, young Skywalker," Qui-Gon said and Luke winced. Only Luke's friends knew his real last name. "Sit on the chair. Like this." He knelt in a position that looked uncomfortable, but Luke followed. "Now close your eyes. Extend your hand. Focus on an object in the room. Picture it in the air…"

"You knew my real parents?" Leia asked excitedly.

Ahsoka cringed. You can't just lie about it, just… bend the truth! "Your mother was from Naboo - part of the Naberrie family, and a politician. Your father was a pilot. Their paths crossed, and they got married."

To put it simply.

"What were their names?"

Ahsoka laughed nervously. "I don't think I should be giving that up, I should ask your father first if I can tell you."

"Well, what happened to them?" Leia asked.

Suddenly, the teacher Miss Ellé walked in. "Good morning, Leia - " She stopped in her tracks. "Ahsoka?"

"Pad - Ellé!" The two women ran to meet each other.

Padmé smiled. "Oh, Ahsoka, you've grown!"

"That does seem to happen in life, doesn't it?" she responded wryly.

"Are you taller than me now?"

"Huh. I think so," Ahsoka said and the two women laughed.

"Miss Ellé!" Leia ran over. "Guess what? You're related to my mother!" Both Ahsoka and Ellé's faces whitened.

"Breha? I don't think that she's from Naboo."

"No, my real mother! My birth mother - Ahsoka was telling me that she was a Naberrie."

"She was, wasn't she?" Padme briefly glared at Ahsoka and the Togruta looked down.

Leia began to spout out a bunch of questions. "So we're related? That's so cool! I wonder if my father knows. Do you know who it was?"

"My family was very large. I'm not sure who it could have been, and I assure you that Bail didn't know who I was when he hired me," Padmé said. "Anyways, we've already wasted ten minutes of class. Ahsoka, want to grab something to eat after class?"

"Sure thing, Ellé." Ahsoka walked out.

She began to teach the class, but for the first time in her life, Leia couldn't concentrate. How had Ahsoka known her parents in the first place?

"Slowly, open your eyes," instructed Qui-Gon. Luke did as he was told and much to his astonishment, one if his dad's heat lamps was floating in midair.

"What? How?" Luke yelled. Then he saw - his had was still outstretched. He gasped. "Am… I doing that?"

Qui-Gon smiled. "Yes, young one."

Luke screamed in horror and dropped his hand. "What?" he yelled again. The lamp crashed to the ground.

"It is not something to be afraid of; it's something to be proud of."

"What is it?" Luke trembled. "Have I always had it?"

"Yes, you have."

"Then why am I just realizing this… this power now? Why not when I was younger?"

Qui-Gon sighed. "The Force has awakened in you, Luke. You've never had a teacher before, but now you do. When I was alive, I possessed the same abilities that you do now."

"You can teach me to control it? This Force?" he asked.

"Of course, young one," Qui-Gon said. "It would be an honor."

"So, Ahsoka, tell me exactly what you told Leia," Padmé said. She had been furious at Ahsoka when she told Leia the 'partial truths,' but, they were able to talk soon.

"I, uh, let it slip that I knew her parents. Then she started asking questions and I said that they were from the Naberrie family and a pilot. I didn't realize that 'Naberrie' was the name you were going by here. After that, she asked her parents' names. I said that Senator Organa wouldn't appreciate me telling her, and then you walked into the room."

"You made it smooth enough, but next time, watch your mouth," Padmé warned.

Ahsoka sighed. "I don't get it. Why can't you just tell Leia at least that you're her mother? It would make everything easier."

"It was my decision. I don't want to deprive her of the childhood she was meant to have. And that's with the Organas," she explained.

"I guess… I understand, Padmé."

Bail Organa had found them. "I heard Leia talking about her mother being a Naberrie and I immediately came to you," he said, smiling, but radiating caution.

Ahsoka was about to explain, but Padmé said, "Bail, I'll explain later. It's nothing that we can't explain to Leia."

"Alright, then. Ahsoka, the I'd like to talk to you about the cell - "

"What cell?" Padmé interrupted.

Ahsoka explained, "A rebel cell focused on Lothal. Artoo recorded practically everything about their operatives and the footage revealed a boy who's a Force-user."

"Really?" she said excitedly. "That means he could be trained!"

"The thing was, his companions were an odd mix - a Lasat, a Mandalorian, a Twi'lek, and a human male. The man knew the saying 'The simplest gesture of kindness can fill a galaxy with hope.' That's a Jedi saying, and he knew it," Bail said.

"You're thinking there may be a Master and a Padawan on this crew?" Padmé asked.

"Exactly," Ahsoka nodded. "By the way, Senator, I was meaning to ask you if I could do a little work with Leia… like, training work."

Bail raised an eyebrow. "You wish to train her?"

The Togruta blushed. "Well, yes, technically…"

"No - I understand, Ahsoka. I've been thinking about the matter as well and I agree with you." Both Padmé and Ahsoka's eyes brightened. "But on one condition."

"Name it."

"It can't be Jedi training, really. I want her to learn to use a blaster and a lightsaber, but none of the meditative stuff or Force-use. Eventually, Master Yoda might be able to train her. After Palpatine is defeated. At the moment, I'd rather my daughter have a solid way to defend herself. If Palpatine can really sense her when she's better with the Force, I don't want to take that risk. "

"Not a problem, Senator," Ahsoka smiled. "I take after my master; I prefer talking with my lightsaber."

"I can second on that," Padmé deadpanned.

"Thank you, Senator Organa. Your daughter will be well trained," Ahsoka promised.

"I know it," Bail said.

"And I have just the person to help me out," she said.

"So what are we doing, exactly?" Rex asked. "I'm being pulled out of duty just for this. What makes it so important?"

"Because this is training for Leia Organa," Ahsoka said as they opened the door to the pearly white training room, one of the many unused rooms in the palace.

"Oh," Rex said quietly. Leia was there, waiting for her newest class while having her feet up on a chair reading a data-book. "She looks like her mother," he whispered.

Leia looked up and clicked a button to turn off the datapad. "Hi!" she said cheerfully. "You're leading my defense class, Ahsoka?"

"Yeah," Ahsoka said. "What're you reading?"

"Oh, it's about things called Greek gods on a made-up planet called 'Earth.' It's really good, I've read all ten books about five times," she laughed.

"Sounds interesting! Well, I'd like to introduce you to my friend Rex." Rex put out his hand and smiled.

"Good to finally meet you, Princess," he said affectionately.

Leia shook his hand and said, "You're a clone, aren't you?"

"Perceptive, eh?" Rex said. "What gave it away"

"Uh, your armor."

Ahsoka snorted as Rex scratched the back of his neck.

"Are you a rebel too?" the princess asked tentatively.

"Yeah, don't worry, I'm with them," he said. "Now, grab one of those long-range blasters over there, Princess. We've got work to do." The girl excitedly went to get a blaster. He leaned over to Ahsoka and whispered again, "Scratch that. She reminds me of her father, too."

Ahsoka tapped a few buttons next to the door and the battle simulation setting was turned on. "Alright, Princess. This is going to be a simulation battle. You'll be 'fighting' battle droids each with a target on their chest. Rex will call out orders to you, and you should follow them. You know how to fire a blaster, right?" Leia nodded and Ahsoka continued, "Good. The droids won't fire back today, but when you advance, they'll start to fire mock blaster bolts. Remember, these are only holograms. Okay?"

Leia got into the center of the room while Ahsoka and Rex went to higher ground. Leia breathed, It's just a mock battle. It's not like they'll be firing at you. It doesn't have to be perfect.

"You could've at least prepared me for this," Rex murmured.

"Just think of it like Onderon all over again!" Ahsoka nudged him.

Rex chuckled. "Except you're not there getting all moony-eyed over a politician."

She blushed. "I wasn't moony-eyed over Lux!"

"I never said it was Lux," he said mischievously.

"You're ahead of your game, old man," she shot back. "I don't think you're even fit to be in a battle simulation."

"I'm younger than you."

"That has always disturbed me."

"Simulation beginning now." A buzz echoed through the room and Leia readied her blaster. Everything blanked out for a second and suddenly all of the walls were in a forest setting, even the ceiling. It seemed so real. Suddenly, a slender figure emerged.

"Leia!" Rex shouted from above, out of her sight. "Shoot it! It's a battle droid!" That was a battle droid? Leia almost laughed, it looked that stupid, but she shot it anyway, with perfect aim. More holographic droids began to come out of the forest-disguised walls. Rex called out more commands.

"Shoot right. Right! Left! No, they're advancing, shoot left!" This went on for quite a while, until Leia was crouched on the floor, panting; despite this, all of the simulation's droids had been shot down by her blasts. Honestly, how had there been a war against these incompetent things called battle droids?

"Good job, Princess!" Ahsoka announced from the top of the room. "Now, let's see what you can do blindfolded."

Blindfolded?! This woman is crazy!

The forest setting came up again, but Leia hardly got a glimpse of it, as one of her new mentors came up behind her and tied something around her eyes.

With Rex guiding her the entire way with directions, she again managed to make her way through the simulation. Out of breath and sweating, she found the strength to stand up. "There. I finished your battle. Can we please stop now?"

Ahsoka laughed and the entire room reverted to its original white canvas. "Of course. Take a quick break and then we'll go onto something a bit more… civilized."

"Civilized?" Leia asked with a brow raised.

She could feel Ahsoka's smirk, even though Leia couldn't see her face all the way. "Yes. Sword fighting."

Seven years earlier

12 BBY

A knock on the door.

He opened it. "Can I help you, men?"

One of the stormtroopers pulled out a datapad and looked at it. "Are you Ephraim Bridger?"

"Yes, that's my name," he nodded.

The stormtrooper handed Ephraim the datpad. "Sir, you and your wife are under arrest for illegal transmissions and treason against the Empire." Ephraim raised his eyebrow.

"Now, men, I really must - " he said, putting up his hands.

"Cuff him!" said the lead trooper. "Where's your wife?" he asked brashly.

"In the kitchen," Ephraim lied, but the soldiers walked into the house anyway. His wife was with their son in his bedroom right now.

Mira knew what was happening. "Ezra," she said. "Ezra, I need you to wake up." The little boy opened his dark blue eyes.

"What… why?" he asked, yawning.

"Just listen to me!" she whispered. "Climb out the window and get to Tseebo's house."

"What? What's going on?" Ezra said, panicked.

"And I need you to be quiet, baby. Very quiet," she warned. The big eyes begged to Mira so that she had to look away.

"Where are you going, Mom?" he asked desperately. Mira only smiled sadly and shook her head as she fingered a blaster on her belt. Suddenly, there was a crash downstairs and Ezra raced down, staying well out of sight. He peeked through the bars and saw stormtroopers, the soldiers who constantly patrolled the streets, standing inside the house. Mira was lying on the floor, a trooper holding an blaster above her head. Another trooper had Ephraim cuffed behind the back. "Mom… Dad…" Ezra whispered. Was his mother dead? Then he saw her face. Along with Ephraim's face, she was a bundle of calm. There was no fear radiating off of her. She told me to escape. I'm going to escape.

Ezra quietly raced up the stairs again and breathed. He climbed out the window, quietly as possible, fingering the walls and any cracks he could find. He finally hit the ground and ran.

At what he supposed was midnight, he arrived at his parents' friend Tseebo's house. Tseebo was a Rodian, a friend of his parents'. Many nights in the last month he had heard Tseebo talking to his parents in hushed tones, trying to discuss things that they didn't want Ezra to hear. He never decided to ask.

"Tseebo?" he called, and a light suddenly flickered on.

"Ezra?" said a voice. "Ezra Bridger?"

"Tseebo, it's me!" he said. "The stormtroopers - they took my parents!"

The Rodian shook his head mournfully. "Bridgers. Tseebo warned them this would happen."

"What?" he cried. "I don't understand what's going on."

"Ezra, you must stay here," Tseebo said. "Tseebo will find Bridgers and bring them back."

He grinned. "Thank you!"

"Wait here, Ezra. I will be back in the morning." Then he was waving and smiling.

Just like his mother had the last time they saw each other.

Tseebo didn't come back the next morning. Or the next. Or the next. Ezra was getting hungry. He didn't want to take food from Tseebo's house, but he was starving. As he gobbled down a nutrition bar, he heard a soft meow. He could identify the source - a tooka sitting in the window. "Aw, hi, little Loth-cat," he said affectionately when he saw the animal. Then the Loth-cat ducked out of sight. "Wait! Come back!" Ezra ran out of the house, following the little cat when he could spot it. He got too tired, and the cat stopped.

"Please, tooka, I'm too - " Ezra looked down at his feet. He was walking in the grasses. He had made it all the way outside the city! He eyed the Loth-cat. "You led me here?" he asked and it simply purred, gesturing somewhere with its head.

It was a tower. Ezra climbed up through the stairs and looked around. Outside, there was a balcony. He sat there for a while, thinking, and then suddenly, cracked.

"Mom?" he called out in despair. "Dad? Where are you?"

There was no response, only the faint meow of a Loth-cat.

What did I tell you about emotionally wrecking? Ezra, my poor, poor blueberry.

Chapter synopsis: This chapter starts right after the episode Droids in Distress. Qui-Gon begins to train Luke in the Force, without giving him any secrets about his father or the Jedi. Ahsoka nearly tells Leia about her parents, but smoothly talks her way out of it. Bail gives Ahsoka permission to train Leia, and Rex helps her. She also mentions the young Force-senstive boy on the Ghost crew. Going seven years into the past, we see the arrest of Ephraim and Mira Bridger. Their son Ezra escapes to the communication tower, his home for the next seven years until joining the Specters.

Most of the action will begin to happen a year and a half later, when Leia, Luke, and Ezra are all 16, in Season Two.

CloneWarsNerd: Yeah, I'm evil. It happens when I write Star Wars.

Isabelle Ashmore: I discovered the thing about Padme acting as a handmaiden between Episodes III and IV a while ago and thought it would be a great idea to use it in my story. I'm glad that you liked Ahsoka and Leia meeting!

GlaciesTheNerd101: AHSOKA! Noooo!

Guest: Thank you for reading!

TaitanoRules555: Interesting question! I love both MCU and Star Wars, and I hope that someday I will make that fanfiction. If you have any suggestions, just review.

As always, review, follow and favorite. May the Force be with you and God bless!

-HH