Summary: The explosion of the Sith Temple places Darth Vader and Ahsoka in a situation neither of them imagined possible. Now in an unfamiliar place that is eerily similar to Mortis, Darth Vader and Ahsoka must face the echoes of their past and work together to find their way back home.

Chapter Three: Mysterious Places 3/3

Earlier with Ahsoka

"Then you will die," stated the mechanical and human voice.

Those had been his last words to her, signing her death and sealing her fate. It seemed like an almost fitting end Ahsoka had thought, a tragic end, dying at the hands of her former master. Lying on her back now, eyes closed and wondering if she was dead, Ahsoka choked back a sob. When she had been his student she never once imagined he would be the one responsible for her death. That he would be the one to strike her down when he promised he would never let anyone hurt her. She took a shuddering breath.

Breath, she was still breathing. Did that meant she was still alive?

Ahsoka opened her eyes slowly, the blinding light from what she assumed was the sun making it hard for her to see. Above her was a sea of green leaves and streaks of brown branches connecting them all. Clenching her hands, Ahsoka felt the soil slip through her grip. The Togruta sat up with a start, confusion, worry and a bit of fear filling her chest as she looked around only to see nothing but trees. Ahsoka took a deep breath, the last thing she remembered was fighting Vader in the Temple when the light surrounded them. The feeling of the Force being released and engulfing her had been overwhelming to say the least, but at the same not unexpected.

Ahsoka was about to rest her face in her hands when she jumped in surprise. The grey arm sleeves she wore were no longer there, instead replaced by familiar brick red sleeves that cut off at her elbows and stopped at her knuckles. Ahsoka hadn't seen these since she had been a young teenager. Curious, Ahsoka looked down at herself to see the red tube top that left the burnt orange skin of her stomach and her shoulders exposed. Ahsoka felt heat rise to her montrals.

Whenever she thought back to this outfit, she always felt embarrassed because of how much skin she left uncovered. Although she didn't have a bad body shape, she just felt uncomfortable thinking about all the unwanted eyes she definitely caught while wearing this. The feeling of the white tights and red boots were nice, along with the red skirt she wore made a wave of nostalgia wash over her. However the moment quickly passed as she continued to look over herself, she realized she wasn't just wearing her old clothing, but that she was her old, or more accurately, her younger self again. Ahsoka brought her hands to her montrals, they were smaller, the lekku shorter and the tips duller.

This made the Togruta groan, "Unbelievable."

It had taken forever, in her opinion, for her montrals to finally grow and when she entered adulthood, her montrals had been great. Now she was back to square one which left an irritated feeling in the Togruta's mind. Ahsoka pushed the childish thoughts aside, there were more important things to take care of. For instance, trying to figure out where she was, what happened to her and how did she get here. Ahsoka stood up, out of habit she felt for her lightsabers only to find that they weren't there. Not only did she not know where she was, she was virtually defenseless.

That was when she thought of how distant the world around her felt.

The Force. It was there, Ahsoka could feel it, but she couldn't grasp it. This worried her, she looked around for anything that she could try to lift with the Force to see if she was actually cut off. Her eyes landed on a log not to far away, she raised her arm and willed the log to rise, but it didn't. Ahsoka could feel the Force around her, but not within her. This caused a wave of panic to to steal her breath. Without the aid of her lightsabers or the Force, she was left completely on her own. Ahsoka took a deep breath to calm her growing anxiety, she could do this so long as she didn't panic. The teen frowned, what was she going to do?

"Ahsoka Tano."

The voice, Ahsoka knew that voice, but it took her a few moments to remember who the voice belonged to. It was the Daughter, from Mortis. Ahsoka turned around to find the speaker, a human like woman even though Ahsoka knew she was anything but. Her pale skin glowed white like the moon, her gold and white dress flowing elegantly and her green hair cascading around her shoulders in waves.

"Daughter, I remember, but how," Ahsoka questioned surprised, "How can you be here? On Mortis, you were gone. I've only ever seen Morai."

"I have never left you Ahsoka. When I used the remainder of my life to spare yours, a portion of myself stayed within you. Ever since then I have watched you grow and fight through Morai's gaze. I have seen you prove to the Force again and again of your strength, courage, determination and heart."

Ahsoka wanted to feel proud, happy or even grateful by the Daughter's words, yet…. she felt nothing. What exactly had she done that the Force would see her in this way? Be accused of a crime she didn't commit? Abandon her old life for an uncharted one? Serve the rebels as an informant? Ahsoka suddenly felt very small in the grand scheme of things.

Ahsoka's shoulders slumped slightly, her face fell as she whispered, "I feel as though I've done nothing worthy of this praise."

The Daughter took a step closer to Ahsoka, towering over her with her height. Placing one hand under Ahsoka's chin, the Daughter brought her gaze up to meet her own.

"Oh Ahsoka. I have seen firsthand how much of a fighter you are and the Force recognizes this in you. How after the trials you have faced, you have still managed to come out stronger than you were before. Still basked in the light."

Ahsoka wanted to believe the Daughter's words and even as she felt her doubt lessen, she was still unconvinced. Besides, there were more important things that needed her attention.

Ahsoka asked her, "Daughter, where are we?"

Daughter lowered her hand, her face grave as she spoke.

"We are on Resso, a world between others. It is similar to Mortis in many aspects, but it is far more dangerous and unpredictable."

Ahsoka frowned in confusion, "I don't understand. Why was I brought here? Why do I look like a child again and why can't I connect with the Force when I can feel it all around me?"

"The reason you have returned to this age is the same reason why you cannot connect to the Force. In order for you or your former master to reconnect with the Force, you both must accept something that you deny."

Ahsoka felt a small bit of relief and fear knowing that Vader had been brought here as well. She didn't focus on that though. Instead she thought over Daughter's words for a brief moment. If she wanted to regain her connection to the Force, then she had to accept something she denied. There were a number of things Ahsoka had denied or refused to believe, but what which would be the one that she would have to accept?

"Lightsabers," Ahsoka questioned.

"After you reconnect with the Force, you will need to rebuild your lightsabers. That test will be similar to the one you took as a child."

"And what about this," Ahsoka gestured to herself, "I've already gone through puberty. I'd rather not deal with my first time again."

An amused smile flickered onto the Daughter's face before it disappeared. Her previous grim expression present again.

"Only if you complete a certain number of trials and overcome different obstacles will you be able to grow again. Initially, you would have been made to the age you received your headdress and the Chosen One to the age he had just become a Knight. However Father changed this, you two had not met then and he felt this would be better."

Ahsoka's eyes widened in shock, "Father is here to? Does that mean the Son is here as well?"

Daughter nodded, "Yes they are both here along with many other Force Wielders who want to see what you two can do."

"See what we can do," Ahsoka said questioningly, "That doesn't sound promising."

"Resso is a place of unfinished business. You and the Chosen One have much that has not been resolved. It troubles you both."

"That still doesn't explain why we're here," Ahsoka said, folding her arms over her chest.

"The Force Wielders here have summoned the two of you to test you on behalf of the Force."

"A test," Ahsoka questioned confused, "What do they hope to gain from these tests? What kind of tests will they give us? Surely you must know."

"I do, but I cannot answer now. There will be many trials and obstacles ahead of you Ahsoka, all of which will be designed to attack and break you in any way. Once you complete a trial, you will receive a… reward. For instance, if you get past the first trial, your connection to the Force will be restored."

Ahsoka nodded along numbly, "Alright.. Anything else I should know?"

"You will be his guide."

"Me," Ahsoka said in surprise, "Guide him where? I don't know where I'm going."

"Not yet. The Force will reveal the path to you in time. You will guide the Chosen One and he will follow you through the forest, the caves and through the many landscapes. You will lead him to the mountain."

"For some reason I doubt that," Ahsoka muttered to herself before asking the Daughter, "What will we find at the mountains?"

"The mountain is the gateway to return to where you came. However you will not be able to find it until you pass the tests."

"And should we fail," Ahsoka asked hesitantly.

"Then the Galaxy is in far more danger than originally believed."

Ahsoka sighed, "Okay let me get this straight. Vader and I need to journey through this forest, face trials until we either grow or pass them, get to the mountain and return to Malachor?"

"That is one way of putting it, yes. Now go Ahsoka. Find the Chosen One, journey to the mountain and do not give in."

"Wait," Ahsoka called as glowing light surrounded Daughter, "I still have questions."

As quickly as she was there, the Daughter was gone without a trace. Suddenly Ahsoka felt very alone as pinpricks of fear began to fill her mind. What was she going to do? Which way was she supposed to go? How was she supposed to lead the Chosen One, Darth Vader, to this mountain? Would he even listen to her? Would she even be able to find him?

Ahsoka released a heavy sigh, she looked up to the trees and spotted a little convor she recognized as Morai perched on the branches. It's white feathers shining in the sunlight, the tip of it's green tail hanging off the branch.

The Daughter's words echoed in her mind as the convor took flight, I have never left you Ahsoka.

Ahsoka smiled lightly, maybe she could do this.

Present

"After that, I began to wander around until I spotted you across the brook," Ahsoka said, finishing her tale.

Vader had just finished wrapping her freshly stitched cuts with the grey fabric from his clothes, to keep it concealed from the elements. After listening to Ahsoka's story, Vader felt more confused and uncertain than before. However, he was slightly grateful for more information.

"That was all she told you," Vader questioned leaning back against the tree beside her.

The action was so familiar to the both them, a wave of nostalgia mixed with discomfort settled in the space between them. How the two of them looked in this state seemed as if they were out of a memory. As if all the years of pain and suffering had never occurred. It sent a pang of longing through Ahsoka's heart. If only things had been different.

She nodded grimly, "Daughter told me that in order for us to… grow again and reconnect with the Force we would have to face many trials. What that entails, I'm not sure."

"And you will be my guide," Vader questioned, one eyebrow raised.

Ahsoka hesitated, "That's what she told me, but I have no idea where we're supposed to go… She said it would reveal itself to me in time, but I'd rather it just come to me now."

"Is there a time limit on these… tests," Vader questioned darkly.

Ahsoka tried not to shudder at his tone as she replied, "I didn't ask."

"In order for us reconnect with the Force, we must accept what we deny," Vader inquired, wanting to clarify with the Togruta.

Ahsoka nodded again, "Yes."

Vader and Ahsoka fell into a sullen silence, neither one knowing what to say. There was so much that needed to be said, yet the words would forever remain locked in their minds. Ahsoka felt tears fill her eyes, but she refused to let a single one fall. It killed her to know that even though he looked like her former master, sounded like him, he wasn't there. The man she looked up to, the one who cheered her up when she was down, who teased her and kept her on her toes was nowhere to be found. Ahsoka had never truly believed Anakin had become Darth Vader.

No. It-It can't be true.

At first, Obi-wan told her that Anakin had been killed by Palpatine's new apprentice, Darth Vader. She had never seen Vader or come in contact with him except for feeling of his cold and dark presence at the end of the clone wars, but it had been overshadowed by all the death of the Jedi. It wasn't until she felt his presence on the Ghost Crew's ship, when he entered her mind that it hit her. How his presence overwhelmed her, there was flicker of an old bond she hadn't been able to touch in years. A bond to her former master who had turned into the nightmare of the Galaxy.

Vader didn't need to look at Ahsoka to know she was filled with sorrow. Despite their disconnection to the Force and the fact that they hadn't really seen each other in years, he could still read her like an open book. The slight slump of her shoulders, the way she kept her eyes on the forest floor. All tendencies that showed she was filled with sadness, deep in thought. And Vader didn't blame her. He couldn't help, but to feel somewhat the same about this.

It was strange to be here again, by her side. At first, he was angry with himself for feeling this way when he knew he should be feeling resentment and anger towards her. However he really wasn't angry with her, more upset than anything. She had been smart to leave the Jedi, they were the ones who were corrupt and she had escaped their claws before it was too late. She had left him- Anakin- behind and that was what upset him.

Yet, he still gave her two chances to get away from him on Malachor. Offering her the Emperor's mercy if she did what he asked. Pushing her over the edge, away from the Temple and out of his way. Each time had been his way of saving her the fate that she sealed when she decided not to leave him behind. Part of Vader wanted to say something, but there was nothing he could say. Suddenly Ahsoka stood from her spot, unable to stay so close to him any longer.

"I'm going to look around," Ahsoka said sharply.

Vader opened his mouth to speak, but before he could get a word out she ran forward and jumped. It took him a moment to realize she was going to use her momentum to get up the trees by going back and forth between them. Vader stood up from his spot and watched her make her way into the tree tops.

When Ahsoka knew Vader couldn't see her through the branches and the leaves, she released a sigh. Pulling herself up higher, she made it to the top of the tree to see nothing, but tree tops for miles. There wasn't a mountain that she could see, just a forest. She wondered if the caves would be in the mountains or in the ground beneath. She felt nothing as she looked around, so much for being a guide.

"Anything," she heard Vader call in Anakin's voice.

Ahsoka forced her emotions down, refusing to let herself cry or show how unstable she felt. Without saying anything, Ahsoka made her dissent back to the forest floor by jumping from branch to branch. Even though she didn't have the Force to help her, she had little problem making her way down. Once she landed in her preferred side lunge position, she stood before Anakin, Vader.

"Nothing of interest, it's an endless forest," Ahsoka replied, "I suggest we make camp here for the night and gather supplies. Tomorrow we should start walking."

"You didn't see the mountain," Vader asked, an eyebrow raised.

Ahsoka shook her head, "No."

"And if we end up going in the wrong direction," Vader questioned with a dark undertone.

Ahsoka tried not to shiver as she replied in a firm voice, "If you want to stay here, be my guest. Tomorrow I intend to walk through this forest and hopefully find something. I will do that, with or without you."

Vader narrowed his eyes at her, but Ahsoka paid no attention to the look. They couldn't stay in one place forever and they certainly couldn't wait for some mountain to appear of nowhere, they would need to take the chance of going the wrong way and finding something. In order to get through this, they needed to move. Ahsoka walked past him and disappeared into the trees, she had to get away from his face. He wasn't her master anymore.