Part II - The Daughter of a Clone

Intrigue, romance, tragedy, and a fair amount of violence awaits you. We have time travelling to be revealed and a clone army in the process of being grown. Time skip of four-ish years from 29 BBY to 25 BBY.

As of 25 BBY: Rey Palpatine and Asajj Ventress are 27, Obi-Wan Kenobi is 32, Maul is 30, Padme Amidala is 23, and Ahsoka Tano is 12

I have now read about 20 books of the Star Wars variety, watched hundreds of videos, started watching the Clone Wars TV show (in French because why not work on my language skills?), rewatched all the movies at least twice, and dabbled in reading others fanfictions all in the last crazy three months. Turns out that if you apply a grad-school level of research into a fandom the results can be quite entertaining. So with the now hundreds of hours I have poured into research, notes, correspondence with friends, writing, and editing, I hope you enjoy :D

Chapter 23 - Ahsoka Tano

Ahsoka Tano was the type of initiate that was too impulsive by half, and untold

amounts of too stubborn for her own good.

Her teachers often called her fighting form predatory, her strategies reckless, and her work summaries for her classes 'so brief and succinct as to allow no other point of view despite ample omissions that could be considered 'misleading.'

But she was twelve, and as her 'mission summaries' were really just history lessons already documented, she saw absolutely no reason to regurgitate the information back to the people who knew the subject better than she did. She said as much to her teachers.

The Masters were not amused.

This was to say that Ahsoka had received many a reprimand for challenging orders, talking back, and generally trying to have the last word in any given conversation had her slated to not -if ever- be picked as a Jedi Padawan.

Which was a shame in her opinion, because while Ahsoka had her self doubts (who didn't?), she knew that it was her path to become a Jedi Knight.

She certainly didn't have the disposition to be a farmer.

Only one person seemed to really believe in her, her ceche-mates aside (though even they thought she could be too snippy at times), and the problem was, that one person, was a Jedi Padawan herself, and thus couldn't take on a Padawan of her own.

Of course, Padawan Rey Palpatine was an exception to all the rules and having her in Ahsoka's corner wasn't entirely encouraging.

But why were all these thoughts plaguing her today? After all, she had only recently turned twelve, thus giving her almost a year to be chosen as a Padawan and whatever behavioural issues she had, no one could deny she was powerful in the Force. But yet she was worried, because on the benches and standing around the practice room Master Yoda had brought them to was nearly every member on the High Council, a dozen other Masters, half a dozen knights, and only one or two Padawans.

Ahsoka felt her heartbeat in her throat as three other creches joined them.

It was Choosing Day. Typically the Masters were more subtle about picking possible Padawans, there was almost always one or two Masters who drifted in and out during practices, but this clearly was a day of assessment.

It was probably a test in and of itself to see how all of them would do under a higher stress environment because Ahsoka could sense she wasn't the only one who was suddenly nervous. In fact, it could be the Masters here were just observing how the training of the next generations was going. The High Council was responsible for the Order working smoothly, and it was always possible that no one would be chosen today, but all the same, Ahsoka had to work to keep her breathing even.

In the crowd, she found Padawan Palpatine who waved at her with a bright smile. Something relaxed in Ahsoka. Ahsoka had the current record out of all the initiates of being able to hold out the longest beside Rey during a training exercise.

In fact, last week Rey had been stopped because Ahsoka had nearly pushed herself to the point of needing to see a healer.

She couldn't tell if Master Yoda had been impressed or disappointed in Ahsoka's lack of self-awareness.

And when Master Yoda put her at the back of the line to be paired up for a duel in the giant room, she was pretty sure the latter was true.

Ahsoka watched the Masters more than the duels, the only people who looked outwardly bored was the recently knighted, Asajj Ventress, and then Master Quinlan Vos. Master Vos's once student, Knight Aayla Secura was by his side and Knight Ventress's once Master was at her side, the pale Shadow having quite the charming smile for someone who was rumoured to be one of the most deadly people in the Order. All four of them were Padawanless.

Beside Knight Sacura was Rey, and beside her Knight Kenobi, who was watching every match thoughtfully as he stroked his red beard. On the other side of him was Master Jinn, who was Master to Rey, and then Master Dooku who as a Council member was not likely to take a Padawan.

Of course, Council members did take Padawans from time to time, and for a moment Ahsoka let herself dream of someone like Master Plo Koon or Master Kit Fisto choosing her.

Rey spoke of them so warmly that she knew as intimidating as the Council could be they served on the Jedi Council because they were good people.

Well, aside from Master Dooku, there was something that terrified her about the man who dressed like a courtier and had a voice that made her think that if thunder could be sophisticated, it would sound like Master Dooku.

Still, Ahsoka would do almost anything to be chosen, and today with so many Masters being unexpectedly here, she felt her hopes rising.

It seemed to take forever for her turn to come, she tried focusing on the duels.

The initiates getting the most attention were those who were most controlled and showed the greatest handle on Niman.

Ahsoka stomped down her worry, she was not good at Niman. She wasn't a relaxed fighter and the easiest motions she hurried through. She found herself finding the pieces of Form IV and V that were in Niman to focus on, much to the disapproval of her Masters.

So naturally, it was her luck to be put up against Initiate Barriss Offee who had enough of a handle on Niman that the Masters had let her begin focusing on Form III, Soresu.

Ahsoka had never personally met Barriss, but she had heard some of the Masters speaking about her. No one doubted she would be chosen, it was just a matter of which Master wanted her most.

Ahsoka let herself glance around before bowing and initiating the fight, most eyes were on Barriss.

Rey caught Ahsoka's gaze, her smile heartening Ahsoka's resolve.

Just be yourself, Tano, you'll waste the energy you have trying to hide yourself that you could be using to better yourself.

Ahsoka took in a deep breath and exhaled as she bowed to Barriss. When she rose, her focus was solidly on her opponent. There weren't solely Niman masters in the crowd, there were mavericks, Shadows, Sages, Council members, and Jedi she was sure were quite extraordinary in their own way.

This fight was about beating Barriss, it was showing off her potential to be one of them.

Barriss went into a defensive position, and Ahsoka took that as an invitation. Crouching low, she sprang at the older female.

Barriss was fantastically skilled, but what Ahsoka lacked in skill, she made up in persistence.

And aggression.

Minutes passed, the sizzling of green on blue, and Barriss stayed defensive, which Ahsoka found irritating but if the young Mirialan was biding her time for Ahsoka to wear out she was in for a wait.

Barriss feinted and twisted her saber, nearly managing to disarm her, but she let the blade fall and she dropped low in spin, catching her saber in backwards grip in her opposite hand.

Had it been a real fight, Ahsoka could have cut the Barriss's legs off below the knees. But that wasn't the Jedi way and Ahsoka had no desire to cause that kind of harm.

They faced each other again, and this time Barriss pressed the attack with Niman.

Ahsoka met her attacks with interest, keeping her reverse grip that felt more natural and seemed to keep Barriss off balance.

And as the duel wore on, Ahsoka felt the Force building in her, instinctively knowing she could overpower the other initiate, but focusing on where the next blows would come from.

She thought Barriss was wavering, and maybe she was, but she was also playing it up when she dropped into a defensive position. Ahsoka pushed the attack, and with a quick flip of her arm and lunge Barriss managed to disarm Ahsoka who had the split second option of dropping her weapon or have a rather impressive burn on her hand.

Barriss held the tip of her blade pointed at Ahsoka's throat before deactivating her blade and bowing to her.

Only now realizing how raggad her own breath was, and the sweat dripping down her face, did Ahsoka bow in return.

Don't be cocky, Ahsoka, she could hear Master Ali-Alann berating her as she summoned her saber back to her hand.

There was some clapping, though as much for the closing of the entire sparring evening as for them. Ahsoka turned to Master Yoda for his remarks as he had spoken to each pair before them, even to the handful who had been chosen as Padawans. But he wasn't looking at them, no, his focus was on the red haired knight who rose and was walking to Barriss.

Ahsoka stomped on her jealousy. Knight Kenobi had helped train Rey, if there was anyone she had truly wished to capture the attention of it was Obi-Wan Kenobi, even if he had to go by Lientaint Ben Neeson of Naboo because he currently had a record breaking bounty on his head.

But as Knight Kenobi began to speak to Barriss, Ahsoka understood why he would prefer the more talented, calmer, older, duel winner, and Soresu focused initiate over her.

"Initiate Offee," he began, "you fought well. Focused and patient. Form III demands such attention. You are well on the path to having true skill in this Form, though be aware that though Soresu requires conservation of energy to outlast your opponent, you must also exceed the speed of your foe, this is why the bladework is tight and efficient. It is, in the end, a defensive style not an offensive one."

Barriss bowed deeply, "Thank you, Knight Kenobi."

He bowed in return to her, and Ahsoka held her breath waiting for him to ask Barriss to be his Padawan. But he walked to stand before Ahsoka instead.

His face was stern and the little flare of hope died as he said in a stern tone, "Initiate Tano, your form was abysmal. Form V, or at least that is what I assume you were mimicking is direct and powerful, but against a skilled opponent your aggression and impatience was your downfall."

Her shoulders tightened but she refused to let her shoulders drop. She had heard that criticism before, but if she had been in a real fight with Barriss, with no rules, then she would have won.

Kenobi seemed to understand where her defiance came from because his expression grew more grave, "Killing and maiming one's foes is not the objective of a Jedi Knight. And is it your goal to become a Knight, Initiate Tano?"

"Yes, Knight Kenobi," she said stiffly, fighting to keep her rising indignation out of her voice. Did he have to shame her in front of so many. She could almost feel Barriss's smugness, she hadn't been chosen by Kenobi, and there was no way he would choose Ahsoka now, not if he held her in such low regard.

"Why?" he asked.

"What?" she asked, startled out of her thoughts.

"Why do you wish to become a Jedi knight?"

"Because I want to protect people," she said without thinking, "I want to- I want to be a part of something bigger than myself, I want to fight for people's freedoms."

She cursed herself, fighting not to round her shoulders as she thought over everything she had just said, analyzing how it would be interpreted and how the Masters in this room would disapprove.

Kenobi stared at her sternly, the intensity of his green-blue eyes almost frightening, but then his expression broke into a warm smile, "Your aggression and lack of a standard form aside, you were incredibly strategic in your motions. I was impressed by both your stamina and your connection to the Force. I imagine in a real duel you would have attempted a Force push?"

Caught off guard by his switch in demeanour she could only nod.

His face softened further, and Ahsoka saw why Rey spoke so warmly of this man, "Your compassion is to be admired, you could have taken Initiate Offee's legs off, I saw you see the opening. I think you even had the control to stripe just burns on her legs if you wished, but your show of restraint to use less deadly force, though ultimately losing the duel, speaks to your ability to weigh morality in the heat of battle. I am impressed, and I believe you have the makings of a true Jedi."

Ahsoka waited a moment, but when he said no more, she bowed her head, "Thank you, Knight Kenobi."

When she rose, she fully expected him to bow and move on as he had with Barriss.

Instead, he asked, "Would you like to be my Padawan, Initiate Ahsoka Tano?"

She gaped at him and almost shouted, "Yes!" She flushed, "I mean, yes, Master Kenobi, it would be an honour."

He grinned, "It will be my honour to teach you, Padawan Tano." He bowed deeply to her, hands folded in his sleeves.

She bowed to him in turn, feeling near giddy, this moment would forever be held golden in her memories. She felt the Force swell in her, swirling between them as if it were singing with her joy.

She could have hugged him.

He smiled and gestured to the bench he had been sitting at, Rey waving her over.

Ahsoka nearly flew to the spot, Rey pulling her into her hug and said, "I told you didn't have anything to worry about, little Tano."

Ahsoka pulled back, "You knew he was going to choose me?"

Master Kenobi put his hands on his hips from where he still stood in the centre of the training matts, "Rey never mentioned who she was betting on to me."

Ahsoka heard several groans and sighs among the Masters and Knights. She looked around to see credits exchanging hands between smug and exasperated Jedi. She frowned, not understanding until Master Jinn said, "I told you all betting against Rey was a mistake."

"You didn't even bet on Tano just on Rey's bet," Knight Ventress huffed, clearly annoyed.

"You all bet on who he would pick as Padawan?" Ahsoka asked, flabbergasted as the other initiates watching Council members gambling.

Master Kenobi pinched the bridge of his nose, "This was Master Yoda's idea, wasn't it?"

"Hhmm…" the Grandmaster mused, "teach you all not to bet against me, it will."

Several people laughed and one of the Masters who had chosen a Padawan explained to everyone the bets had been a single credit each, proving it was all in good fun rather than actually gambling.

It was still odd, but Ahsoka could appreciate the humour behind it.

Master Windu, who just passed his credit to Master Dooku, said, "Well, lets get on with it, some of us have places to be today."

Master Vos rose to his feet, "Kenobi's been boasting, too bad you're about to get defeated before your new Padawan."

Master Kenobi folded his arms, "You're one of the few, Quinlan, who has not seen me spar in recent years."

The Kiffar snorted indelicately, "I don't need to see you and Twinkle-Toes over here spar to know I always beat you in spars in the past, Kenobi."

Ahsoka's new Master didn't seem in the least daunted, and she didn't think she was the only one in the crowd who thought Vos was being overly arrogant.

They stood before each other and bowed, no further taunts passing between, and here Ahsoka realized why so many of their Order had gathered here today. Yes, five Padawans had been chosen today, herself included, but this seemed like the main attraction. Sure enough, Master Windu, who was the current battlemaster, even if it was said that Master Dooku was the better lightsaber duelist, announced to the room, "Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi stands before us today to prove his Mastery of Form III, Soresu, Way of the Mynock, the Resilience Form."

The Knight and the Master bowed to one another, and when Master Windu gave them the signal to start, Vos launched himself at Ahsoka's Master like a bat startled from its perch.

After a few moments, Ahsoka felt half exasperated with all her lightsaber teachers barring this moment.

They called her aggressive and unpredictable? Master Vos was a wild blur of fury as he went after Kenobi with everything he had.

Rey seemed to read her thoughts because she said, "He knows he can't win."

Knight Aayla Secura snorted, "Of course he thinks he can win, but he also knows yours and his reputation, there is no way to out last either of you, exercise junkies that you are."

Rey huffed, "Training is fun."

Aayla raised a brow, "Training can be fun, but your definition of training is criminal," she looked at Ahsoka, "you have no idea what you have gotten yourself into, Padawan Tano."

"Oh, please," Master Sifo-Dyas said, "Rey has been training with all the initiates for years now, the upcoming generations all have some idea of what to expect from our Kenobi."

Ahsoka had to agree with Master Sifo-Dyas, every initiate loved and was somewhat frightened by Padawan Palpatine whose energy and connection to the Force were boundless.

Kenobi was starting to back up in circles on the training matts as Vos blasted him with furious parry after parry. But just like Rey, Kenobi never seemed to waver in his endurance.

Ahsoka also saw that where Vos adapted some moves to his purposes, Kenobi used only the motions that she herself had faced in her duel with Barriss. Only Master Kenobi was much better, so good in fact that she was pretty sure this was the very best example she had ever seen of Form III.

Master Fisto, who was a Master of Form I, said, "Excellent, most excellent. Well done, Qui-Gon, there aren't many of us who bother to learn the Forms traditionally."

Master Jinn smiled, "Obi-Wan is a Jedi to the core."

Ahsoka was both awed and a little worried by this. She knew Rey loved him, she spoke of him frequently, but a part of Ahsoka had always believed that Rey's feelings had coloured how 'wonderful' Kenobi really was.

The man who fought almost lazily with a guy who seemed like he was trying to hack his head off wasn't just wonderful, he was extraordinary.

And he picked me! Over every other initiate, even the ones who fought better than me, he still chose me to be his Padawan! Ahsoka rarely thought ill of her own capabilities but as she watched her Master duel, every bystander to Jedi Shadow to High Council Member impressed, Ahsoka felt humbled and inexpressibly honoured.

Vos lasted longer than she would have imagined, fighting as he was, though she knew she had fought harder today because of the audience, she thought it must have been the same for him as Kenobi disarmed him in a graceful version of the move Barriss had used to disarm Ahsoka with.

Master Vos was panting and Knight Kenobi hadn't broken a sweat.

Appreciative applause echoed in the hall as the two bowed to one another.

Master Windu stepped forward, but it was Master Dooku who stood and announced, "Knight Kenobi is acknowledged Master Obi-Wan Kenobi for his Mastery of Soresu."

Master Windu sighed, "That is so like you, Master Kenobi. I am called a great swordsman because I invented a lethal style; but who is greater, the creator of a killing form—or the master of the classic form?"

"Greatest?" Dooku asked, a chiding note in his tone.

"Left, you did," Master Yoda said, "great duelist you remain, but invent your own From, you did not."

"Speaking of which," Master Kenobi said, "Since everyone's here to judge, I would like to put forth a Form that I would like to be recognized as the eighth Form."

Silence went through the room as well as a ripple of excitement. Ahsoka was sitting on the edge of her seat, no one had made a new for hundreds of years, even Vaapad was a sort of an adaptation of Form VII. This was history in the making, and maybe Ahsoka would have doubted just about anyone else who tried putting forth a new Form, many had tried creating their own style into a recognizable Form, but a true Form needed its own foundation separate from the others as well as separate mental state.

Master Windu raised a brow, "And what would the name of this Form VIII, Master Kenobi?"

The ginger smiled evilly, "Shono-Mii, the Way of the Butterfly."

Vos threw up his hands, turning on them, he pointed a finger at Rey as he walked back to the benches, "You are a terrible influence, Twinkle-Toes."

Rey blew him a kiss.

Ahsoka was pretty sure Vos and Rey hated each other, though she was really unclear as to why.

Master Windu asked Kenobi, "You are sure you're ready?"

"You asked which was better, a killing form or a classic form. Well, I would like to see which is better between two new forms, one of killing, one of complete surrender to the Force."

Even from a distance, Ahsoka could see the interested light in Master Windu's eyes, just as she felt the rest of the room focus on them.

Was Master Windu going to duel with someone? Really duel, not just a spare?

She curled her fingers into the bench, as if she could hold herself down from jumping up and down, even still her feet bounced her legs as she waited for the duel that she knew would start.

Master Dooku stood, taking Master Windu's spot as the key witness to this second official duel.

Ahsoka let her senses open to the Force, she didn't want to miss a moment of this.

The two Masters bowed to each other, and then it started.

Like last time, Kenobi retreated from his attacker who started at him at full tilt, but unlike when he had been using Soresu, this time he seemed to be almost flying.

Soresu was known as the resilience form, the footwork was very precise, grounded. One had to always be ready to move and dodge as well as hold ground to brace against any blow.

Form VIII was nothing like that, Kenobi's feet seemed to hardly touch the ground and he was always in motion. He looked almost as if the gravity in the room had begun to ease as he twirled and flipped and twisted, and well, hopped and, Ahsoka supposed danced out of the way of Master Windu's strikes.

Vaapad was a variant of Juyo, and Forms VII were variants of Form IV, Ataru. Where Ataru, as Vos had shown in the last duel, was fluid, if an aggressive Form, Vaapad was a rampant, chaotic mess of motions whose only discernible pattern was putting the opponent at odds.

Which might have worked against almost any other Form, but whatever Form Master Kenobi was using seemed, well not chaotic exactly, but random. If Windu was a hurricane, Kenobi was a leaf caught in an updraft.

"Remarkable," Vos said dryly from the other side of Aayla, "he invented a Form more obnoxious than Soresu."

Vos wasn't the only one talking now as everyone felt the Force building in the room.

Master Windu looked angry, his face a mask of contained rage, while Master Kenobi looked like he was about to slip into a meditation, his face utterly relaxed, the muscles around his eyes at ease as he danced back from Windu. Where the Vaapad Master's strikes were sweeping and jagged, the Soresu Master motions were efficient but rapid, whenever Windu managed to score a parry, the blow was glancing as Kenobi used both the motion of his body and the angle of his blade to deflect or evade his opponent.

Vos was right, it did look more like a more obnoxious version of Soresu.

Shadow Mor remarked, "How much of the Force is he channelling? It's like Ataru but no one of his power level should be able to channel this much for long. At least with Vaapad the power builds, but Obi-Wan is just expanding energy on twirls. Soresu is more efficient."

"Is it?" Master Jinn asked, "And yet Mace cannot land a single strike, and he has yet to use any energy on catching the weight of a parry."

"And he isn't channelling the Force," Rey added, "Not exactly."

"What do you mean?" Ahsoka asked, not taking her eyes off the rapid motions of the blue and purple sabers.

"Channelling implies he's using his own reserves of energy to manipulate the Force, but he isn't doing that, he's connecting to the Force and letting it manipulate him. It still takes energy, of course, because you have to be a Force sensitive in order to allow the Force to flow through you like that. But he isn't letting the Force work inside him like Mace is, he's floating on top of it, like a raft on an ocean or a butterfly-"

"On the wind," Ahsoka finished for her, more awed than ever.

"Exactly, it's a form of battle meditation and trusting the whims and currents of the Force. Sometimes, well at least for me, that it is hard to press an attack with it, but it makes for a nearly flawless defense."

As she said this, Kenobi back flipped, his blade coming up in a seamless motion to block Windu's blades as the Vaapad Master let the gravity of his own jump feed into the downward blow.

Of course, Kenobi wasn't there by the time the purple saber scored the mat with a loud hiss.

Then Ahsoka asked as her Master again leapt backwards, the Force suspending him as Windu raced to keep up, "But what if he lets go of the mediation or gets broken out of it during a jump?"

"Then he would fall," Rey said, "but it's all a matter of trust, trusting the Force, trusting your body, trusting your own motives, everything else you have to let go off, or at least be willing to let flow."

Shadow Mor shook his head, "Mace might have met his match with this one, Vaapad almost demands that the opponent is channelling the Dark side so he can throw it back at him. But Obi-Wan isn't giving him anything to return fire with, he might as well be trying to slice a particular snowflake in a blizzard."

"All I see is a modification of Soresu and Ataru, the painful strategy of the third Form, the acrobatics and reliance of the fourth Form," Vos said.

"It's more than that," Rey exclaimed with a scowl, "Ataru is like sprinting, you have to be strong and fast to hold and utilize that much of the Force, but Shono-Mii is like distance running, you aren't going at max the entire time but you are running still and it is a different type of strength, one that will slice at you in bits rather than lob your hand off."

Ahsoka glanced at Rey for a moment, then turned back to the fight, everything she said made sense as she watched. Master Windu was relentless, he was just that powerful to be able to keep up that intensity.

But Kenobi wasn't intense at all, he was gliding, only now and then did Windu have to flinch back, but mostly Master Kenobi just flitted back from every aggressive stroke.

Vos gave Rey a scathing look as he said, "No one is going to bother learning this Form, it looks like it would take insanely long to Master before it ever became useful, and the training routine for this must be sadistic."

"Especially," Master Jinn said with an ill disguised smirk, "since the amount of physical training is equalled in meditation."

"See!" Vos exclaimed, "Who would want to Master in this Form?"

"I would like to," a sing-song voice said from behind them.

Ahsoka startled and turned back to look at the petite woman standing behind Rey. It was Sage Fey, who was rumoured to be almost as old as Master Yoda.

Vos glared at her, but it was Shadow Mor who smirked at the strange woman, "You don't even have a lightsaber."

She sniffed, "I shall borrow one, this Form looks delightful." She patted Rey's shoulder, the two had an odd relationship, as if they spoke to each only through the Force.

And Ahsoka didn't think they exchanged words like some Masters and Padawans could do, but rather when Rey and Fey were in a room together, the Force just passed between them. Like to artists exchanging paintings, it was a form of communication that didn't need words, but yet expressed more and nothing wholly concrete.

Ahsoka wasn't sure who else knew this, she certainly hadn't discussed it with the other initiates, but for Ahsoka, the Force was very loud, and some things were just clear to her even if she would never be as powerful as either of these two women.

A gasp went through the room.

And Ahsoka turned just in time to see Master Kenobi, who had somehow twirled against Master Windu so for a moment they were back to back, and then Kenobi had his left hand on Windu's shoulder and his right raised with his saber.

Dooku called the fight even though both men had already frozen.

Master Windu was shaking with adrenaline, his purple saber shimmering as he fought himself from turning.

Master Kenobi was steady as he kept his saber poised for a blow that would have decapitated the other man.

It took Ahsoka several seconds to realize how this had happened.

Master Kenobi had been completely fearless in the wake of Windu's discordant strikes, and the opening Kenobi has seized wasn't one for a blade, but a way to get behind the other man's spin if he was willing to bare his back and his own neck to his opponent in the mere moments it took him to complete the spin and get into his own position.

In hindsight, it was an incredible risk, but he was a Jedi, and he was following the Force, not his own, possibly sensible, knowledge of his own weaknesses.

Master Kenobi powered down his saber before Master Windu did, and when the Vaapad Master turned around, he bowed low.

Kenobi bowed in return.

Master Dooku said, "An acknowledged Master twice over this day, Master Obi-Wan Kenobi."

"And I would acknowledge this Form as the eighth Form," Master Windu said, "for despite its similarities to others, it is less variation than Form V is of Form III or Form VI is a combination of the five forms before it. Form VIII, Shono-Mii, the Way of the Butterfly, is its own discipline."

"Acknowledge this I do," Master Yoda said into the room, as the other Council members present, and even a few of the Sages and Shadows, called out their own agreement.

Master Dooku smiled, and it was the first Ahsoka had ever seen on that so reserved man, "I might be able to kill you in a match, Obi-Wan, but I don't think I could keep up with you in a ruled match."

"And that," Master Windu said, "Master Kenobi, is the best compliment you are ever going to receive in your existence."

Master Kenobi laughed, and Ahsoka felt as a sudden wash of realization sweep over her.

And what was this realization?

The realization that she really had no clue what she had just gotten herself into.

AN: Little late, but computer problems are fixed now. Shift in tone for this chapter because Ahsoka is twelve, but I thought she deserved her own chapter. Thoughts, reactions, ideas, or Wookie hugs? See you next Thursday! Thank you reviewers, you are making isolation bearable :D