2 | Destined Battle

(A/N) : This is more like a continued chapter of the first. Enjoy

~*AhsokaTano*~

Third POV

Pressing her cheek against the cold, unforgiving rock floor Ahsoka felt defeated. There would be a time when the student became the equal to the master. Perhaps even greater. She had proven a formidable opponent who could hold her own. He had simply pushed the first time her defenses gave.

She got up and went back, managing to destroy part of his helmet. Revealing his luminous yellow eye. She knew the other one was a matching one as well.

Ahsoka

He said her name. She had whirled around and hoped to see his clear blue eyes. Instead met with a yellow that she had hoped would fade.

Anakin

She firmly told him of how she refused to leave him again. His gaze hardened even more and replied steadily.

"Then you will die!"

Trusting him to indeed follow through with what he said she steeled herself for a further battle. Hearing a sort of protest, too focused on her former master to really understand. Knowing who's voice it was she stretched out a hand toward Ezra to keep him from entering this hell once again. Sensing a strike coming Ahsoka formed an X with her light sabers behind her back to block a blow meant to kill.

Continuing, the togruta struggled to keep up with the dark force user. Gritting her teeth in the effort to parry his blows. Slightly flinching as she heard her last chance to escape close she slowed her movements.

Disengaging her, he used the force to push her back several yards. The breathing behind the helmet was heavier and encouraged the former padawan. Throwing her light saber in a bright arc of light it spun toward Vader. He waited until the last possible standard second before bringing up his light sabers to easily deflect the incoming light saber.

Eyes narrowed in concentration, she summoned the weapon back toward her hand before perfectly catching it by the handle.

Running toward him, light sabers poised to strike she pushed off the ground with a force enhanced jump. Batting her weapons aside for a moment, Vader drew up his otherwise unoccupied hand to use the force to throw her to the ground. On a knee, making her way to her feet, he kicked her down. A force packed kick.

Snap!

So it was no surprise when she heard the shatter of her leg. A pained cry escaped from her lips. Forcing herself to glower, she moved to get up but he stopped her by pointing his crimson light saber. Lifting her head to look at him, he stared down at her, unblinking.

The expression of someone who knew the end was near she admirably looked determined. Eyes crinkling in what must have been a cruel grin, he raised an arm as if to reach for the sky. Her makeshift eyebrows drew together as understanding dawned upon her.

Her defense gave and now he shoved, hard. Seeing the dark tendrils of lightning streak toward her, she waited. He never seemed to disappoint. Screaming in pain as she writhed around on the ground trying to push it to the back of her mind. It was impossible and soon gave up hope as her jaw seemed to open even wider to let out her screams of pain.

She howled in pain for herself, for her former master. Soon her screaming ceased as Vader let the force lightning draw away.

"I expect more from you the next time we make an encounter. Ahsoka."

He said her name in a mocking tone and she once again knew that the shock of his lightning had meant to be tortuously painful, but not enough to kill. Feeling her montrals pulse with pain she groaned a mournful one.

Hearing the unsteady steps she knew he was injured. Perhaps it was the powerful kick she had delivered to his lower leg during the battle. The one she had strived to win. The one he had ripped away from her grasp. Was this how he felt all those years ago, when she walked away?

If so, she felt truly sorry.

At the very least, he had learned his lesson. Never become too attached to your dear padawan. He never would have walked -or limped- away from her, if he hadn't.

If she were still the girl he called Snips she would try her hardest to make up for all those years apart.

"I don't plan on disappointing..." Hearing her own voice hoarsely force the words out she felt her eyelids grow heavy. Vader was no longer on these battlegrounds. When he'd told her of his expectations she had been in too much pain to reply. Yet, as she recalled the battle and had finally replied, it was indeed not lost on him.

As sleep fully overtook her senses, she murmured one last thing.

"Forgive me Anakin."