The Tomb of the Senator
A.N: Timeline setting: A few months after Operation Cinder.
Luke Skywalker was confused to say the least. It was not rare for both his and his sister's Jedi Masters to arrange a field trip for the day. Usually it would involve visiting some ancient ruin, like the one on Tython, or an exclusion to some desolate region of space in order to practise something in regards to the force.
And then there were the meditation breaks they seemed to get. Luke enjoyed those. His sister did not.
Not that that was a surprise really. Leia was restless at the best of times. It made sense that she wouldn't be able to sit still for too long.
So when Master Kenobi had taken both he and Leia aside, informing them of a special trip somewhere, Luke had been excited about the prospect. He had asked at the time where he was going, and if anyone else, such as Ezra, was coming along.
Obi-Wan had denied, refusing to tell them anything.
"This isn't my idea, but I personally think it's something you both need to do. She will guide you through it."
Luke had been confused by Obi-Wan's words to begin with. The elder Jedi Master was cryptic at the best of times. But the fact that neither he nor Master Vos were coming was a cause of concern.
Who was this 'she' that would be leading them through it?
Leia had been more accepting of the cryptic nature of the order, heading off to prepare a small two person shuttle for their trip to the rendezvous point, which just so happened to be at Theed, the capital of Naboo.
Upon arrival, Luke has stepped out of the shuttle, Leia by his side. The streets were busy as normal, bristling with activity. It was a few months after the attack by the Imperial Remnant, and whilst the atmosphere above was still prone to unexpected and freak weather shifts, the planet itself was still stable.
Glancing around, Luke hoped he would spot someone, anyone he recognized. Surely their contact, whoever it was, would reveal themselves soon.
And then he felt it, a presence in the force, lightly brushing up against both his and his sister's signature. It was light, yet shrouded in a thin veil of darkness.
He had sensed it before. It was a welcoming, one that only offered support and guidance.
And whilst he didn't really know the person it belonged to too well, having only met her briefly, he knew instantly that she could be trusted.
Clearly Leia, who had had more exposure to the person, felt the same.
Leia broke into a sprint, a bright smile on her face and her signature radiating happiness. Luke, with a light chuckle at his sister's sudden shift in demeanour, raced after her.
A few moments later they were running in sync, turning a corner and vaulting over a crate or two in the process.
And then, entering into a small clearing, they spotted a pair of figures talking quietly to one another.
Slowing both the pace of himself and his sister, Luke watched from a distance as the woman he knew as his father's apprentice embraced a dark skinned woman briefly, before turning and spotting them, a small smile coming onto her face.
Leia wasted no time, abandoning all pretences of being a Jedi apprentice and rushing forward to meet the Togruta, immediately pulling her honorary aunt into an embrace, one that the Togruta happily returned.
"Glad you both could make it." Ahsoka spoke as the embrace ended, bowing her head at Luke in a sign of respect, one that Luke returned. He wasn't as close to her as Leia was, but she was still family.
"Why didn't you tell us you wanted to see us?" Leia spoke, her voice full of joy yet what seemed like disappointment at the same time.
Ahsoka seemed to glance around for a moment, a brief look of something unrecognizable on her face before she replied.
"I'm sorry princess. I've been working on getting us visiting rights for somewhere. I've always wanted to visit, and figured you two would need to come along as well. It's only right after all."
Luke was unsure exactly what Ahsoka was speaking about. Getting visiting rights often meant that an intended destination was off limits to the general public. Clearly Ahsoka had had to go through a lot of loopholes to access wherever it was they were going to.
Suddenly, he got the feeling that this wasn't anything to do with Jedi training. Through the force he could feel a brief wave of guilt and sadness come across Ahsoka as she surveyed a large building not far away.
It was then that the dark-skinned woman from before approached, laying a comforting hand on Ahsoka's shoulder.
"Hey? You going to be ok?" She spoke, her voice warm.
Ahsoka reached a free hand back to the hand on her shoulder, squeezing it briefly before nodding.
Then, with a flick of her hand Ahsoka raised a hood over her head, covering her montrals in the process, and walked towards the large building she had been staring at, gesturing for the twins to follow.
Both Luke and Leia followed in silence as the Togruta led them towards the building. From the way she was acting, Luke could tell that wherever they were going was affecting the woman hard. Luke could only begin to imagine why.
Stepping up a series of marble steps, Luke watched as Ahsoka approached what appeared to be a reception of some kind, quietly speaking to a well-dressed man before being directed into a large central hallway.
As they followed the Togruta, neither twin spoke. The atmosphere around the three was not tense in an uncomfortable way, but rather foreboding in an emotional way.
Ahsoka turned and led them down a long hallway, stopping outside a large wooden door, her hands gently resting on the handle.
Ahsoka didn't move for a few moments, and Luke could tell she was trying to collect herself in the force. The emotions that radiated off her signature fluctuated rapidly, a vast array flooding his senses.
Eventually, the Togruta seemed to work up the courage, if Luke could call it that, and pushed to door open.
What was on the other side elicited gasps from both Luke and his sister.
A large room stood before them, a large stone structure in the centre of the room, one that resembled a sarcophagus. Beyond that there was a painting, one that was heavily decorated in the image of a regal looking woman.
Clearly, this was someone's tomb.
It occurred to Luke then that the place they were in was a mausoleum of some kind.
But why had Ahsoka brought them here?
The room wasn't especially well lit. A row of torches resided in holders along the walls, bathing the room in a dull orange glow, one that emanated a feeling of calm and peace.
Ahsoka seemed to hesitate at first, before stepping further into the tomb, approaching the structure in the centre of the room.
Luke watched as the Togruta gently laid a hand on the stone structure, before closing her eyes and bowing her head in what could only be described as grief.
Beside him, Luke could see that Leia was restraining herself from approaching Ahsoka's side to offer support.
Whilst Ahsoka evidently mourned, both Luke and Leia stepped into the room, approaching the detailed painting of the woman who Luke only assumed now rested eternally in this room.
There were no words that did the image of the woman justice. She was beautiful, and something about her radiated nothing but purity. Her long brown hair was not too dissimilar to Leia's, and her brown eyes were easy to get lost in, even if she was nothing but a motionless painting.
For someone to have such a resting place, they must have been of great importance to the people of Naboo.
And then he heard Ahsoka, quietly speaking to the sarcophagus behind them.
"I'm sorry Padme, I'm sorry I left him. If I hadn't, then maybe, just maybe…"
The Togruta didn't get any further before she broke down into sobs, surprising both Skywalker twins. Her head all but collapsed onto the sarcophagus, her legs giving way underneath her as she fell to the floor, her entire frame shaking.
Leia was by her side in an instant, face full of concern and worry for the Togruta.
But Luke remained motionless.
It wasn't that he didn't care about the state Ahsoka was in. He did!
But the name she had said. He had heard it before, from her of all people.
Looking back at the regal painting of the woman, Luke realised who exactly this person was, and why Ahsoka had brought both he and his sister here.
"This is our mother, isn't it?" Luke inquired quietly, his eyes raking over the painting in much more detail. Now that he knew, he could see the similarities between her and his sister.
"What?" Leia then spoke, confusion in her voice at the unexpected revelation.
Despite the tears and sobs that were escaping her body, Ahsoka reached into the force, composing herself before answering.
"Yes." That was her only reply before she stood back up, brushing the tears away from her face and turning to look at the painting with Luke.
"I figured I owed it to you. To show you both your mother's final resting place. It's only right after all, since I took your father away from you." Ahsoka's voice was quiet as she reached the end of her explanation, her arms wrapping around herself as she spoke.
Luke's gaze never left the painting of the woman he now knew as his mother. After all these years, finally, he had something of his parents before him. Growing up on Tatooine, with his aunt and uncle, he had longed for something, anything that was connected to his parents.
But they were both dead, and under different circumstances.
One had died during childbirth.
The other at the hands of one of his closest friends.
And it was very clear that Ahsoka still felt guilty about her choice to end Vader.
Neither Luke nor Leia blamed her for it though, and they had both told her in the past.
But still, this woman, this role model of his sister's, still she could not forgive herself.
Part of him wondered if either Anakin Skywalker or Padme Amidala would have been able to convince her otherwise. It wasn't her fault. Ahsoka Tano had just been in the wrong place at the wrong time. Were it not for the manipulations of Emperor Palpatine, then none of this would have happened.
Turning to face the Togruta woman, who looked like she was struggling with herself, Luke began to reach out to comfort her.
But Leia beat him to it.
"Bail Organa is my father Ahsoka, not Darth Vader. You did nothing wrong."
Luke didn't miss the wince that came from the Togruta at the mention of his father's Sith name. Leia had had a much harder time accepting who Anakin Skywalker had become, refusing to actively learn anything about him in the process.
Luke didn't hold that against her though. His father had turned into a monster, even if he had been a nice person to begin with, the person that Ahsoka clearly remembered very fondly.
But he still wanted to know more, to know what made his father make the decisions he did. That was how Luke dealt with his grief. Acceptance and understanding, not dismissal and anger as Leia did.
"But if I hadn't left him…" Ahsoka muttered, her voice full of self-despair.
"Then he would have turned on you just like he did Master Kenobi, and just like he did our mother." Leia continued, gesturing to the painting before her. "He was no longer the man who trained you."
Luke took the opportunity to speak in that moment, hoping to support his sister's statement.
"Leia is right Ahsoka. Anakin was dead long before you fought him. You did him a favour, and neither of our parents would ever hold that against you. It's time for you to forgive yourself."
Ahsoka did not make any eye contact with either twin. Rather she stood, looking into the brown eyes of the painting of Padme Amidala. Both Luke and Leia could only watch as a myriad of emotions covered the Togruta's face. Loss, Anger. Guilt. Remorse.
And then, acceptance.
Their father's apprentice closed her eyes again, her hands coming up to her neck, gently taking grasp of the kyber crystal necklace she wore, before she squeezed it gently in her hands.
And then, through the force both twin felt a change from the Togruta woman.
Ahsoka reopened her eyes, letting go of the necklace, before stepping back from the painting and heading towards the door.
"I'll leave you two alone in here for a bit. She's your mother after all, not mine."
"Stay. You're family too." Luke didn't even hesitate. She might not have felt like she was, but through the force both he and Leia agreed. Ahsoka was more than welcome in the tomb of their mother.
Ahsoka's eyes widen at the request, the blue in her eyes only getting bolder by the statement.
In the end, she didn't refuse. If the children of her master and her friend and confidant wanted her here, she would stay.
She would always stay for them.
Smiling as Ahsoka moved to re-join him and Leia, Luke moved over to the sarcophagus, resting his own palm on it gently before speaking.
"Hello mother, I've always wanted to meet you."
Author's thoughts
So, a short one this time, hope you don't mind.
This was incredibly tricky to write, and whilst I'm not overly pleased with it myself, I thought I'd upload it nonetheless. I'm not sure if Padme has a tomb or anything like that in canon, but I thought, 'why not?' for this AU. Besides, it could very well be a false tomb.
The hardest part of this one shot though was getting the reactions of the different characters to visiting such a place. Originally it was going to be a more in depth look at how Luke and Leia deal with seeing the resting place of their mother, but it was tricky to write it like that, especially since they never got to meet her, and thus don't really have a connection to her that isn't just biological.
So, rather than focus on the twins thoughts, I thought I would show how Ahsoka deals with the loss of Padme through the eyes of the twins, since as it stands she is the only person present who really remembers both Padme and Anakin.
Still, it might not be to everyones liking, so sorry if it is a disappointment.
And now for my next tease regarding my super secret project: Ahsoka will get a new lightsaber... but it will not be a colour you are expecting. I'll let you lot think about what that could mean, muahahahahahahaahaha!
Next one shot is not going to be a happy one either I'm afraid, as Captain Rex is forced to deal with the harsh realities of being a clone trooper bred for war... accelerated ageing. Bring tissues.
As usual, comment and speculate at will. Speaking of which:
Travis Middleton: Glad you enjoyed the fluff overload. Everything about the previous one shot was great fun to write, and a nice change of pace as well.
A wedding one shot is definitely coming, no question. :)
Chiara Polairix Edelstein: Of course she said yes. Imagine the chaos if she said no!
I hope you day improved. I know what those sort of days are like. :)
Cranky Paws: Glad you enjoyed the happy chapters. They are always a breath of fresh air to write.
Overprotective Kanan is just pure awesome. He'd be exactly like that though.
Draven got what he deserved. Simple as that.
Maliwan: Despicible Me reference by any chance? :)
TerminatorJedi1995: Glad it got a laugh of of you. That was the the whole point of the one shot in general.
Poor Ahsoka had no idea how to have fun, and it sort fo backfired on her a bit huh? A hungover one shot with her is not out of the question, I'll say that.
Kanan stating he was blind was a Chirrut reference yes.
And yes, the implication of the crush discussion was that Ahsoka was Kanan's first crush. She was his childhood hero after all, in this AU at least.
SLE's fave guest: Poor Kaeden is the only normal person there, so it made sense to have her completely horrified by the business talk that went on. Sufficde to say, the mood clearly lightened a bit towards the end.
I hadn't thought about the Kadavo arc being the last time Ahsoka wore a dress. That makes sense about why she was so uncomfortable then. :)
And yes, Ahsoka being Kanan's first crush was the implication for the exact reason you stated. Plus she kicked his arse once, so that made him admire her a fair bit.
Jayson-Master of Storm: Glad you are happy with the happy ever after they all got. It made sense for this AU.
In regards to your question, Kaeden did not know that Kanan was going to propose to Hera. They only planned a double date together as a surprise for their respective partners. Ahskoa getting completely wasted was not at all foreseen either, but it proved beneficial it seems.
FossilQueen1984: Glad you liked the sweet chapter. It was about time Kanan and Hera got some happiness together.
The implication was that Ahsoka was Kanan's first crush, considering she kicked his arse in the temple once.
MaybeImARebel: Thanks, glad you loved it. :)
jojobinks01: The New Republic is forming in this era, but it shall have far more success that it does in canon, mainly because Thrawn is around to help deal with any imperial upstarts. Suffice to say, with the rebels and Thrawn working together, the future looks hopeful for once.
Mysterious Guest one: Glad you loved the double date. It was very enjoyable to write. :)