Chapter Six
Decisions Made
One Year Later
It had been days in hyperspace, but they had arrived on Tatooine. They had requisitioned Watto's Shop, which was now abandoned, and it was now being used as a temporary home for the Jedi. Yoda and Shaak Ti had arrived from their respective missions months earlier. Since then, they had begun training the Younglings in an effort to save the Jedi Order. Ahsoka was also helping to train them, at Yoda's request, but she was still in training herself. She was still a Padawan. Her training hadn't continued very much since they came to Tatooine. Anakin had become very distant, only coming and going, every once in a while taking his Padawan for a training session.
Today was different. Only moments before had he made his decision to remain and do his duty as the Chosen One. He couldn't leave the Jedi order now, not when so much was at stake. So he had decided to remain. The Council had discovered his relation to Padme only because he himself had informed them. They had yet to decide how to handle this, and had told him only to continue training his Padawan. Ahsoka was usually glad to be with her Master, but, Anakin noticed, today she seemed to have her thoughts elsewhere. Usually, she had pushed these thoughts away when she saw her Master, but today she couldn't seem to do so. She apparently did not know he had come to his decision.
She had been like this for weeks, and only now did Anakin notice that it had been steadily growing worse. They were alone at his mothers house, attempting to complete a training session. As it ended, they readied for the return trip. However, when Anakin went to check on her, she hadn't even begun to prepare for the trip back to Watto's. He decided it was time for him confront her. Instead, he was surprised when she instead confronted him.
"Master...after we arrived, you've been so distant. I know you've told me many times never to let my emotions get the better of me, but I couldn't help but notice the conflict within you. I know you're thinking of leaving the Jedi Order." Ahsoka said. Anakin only nodded, not realizing that Ahsoka must've been expecting such a reply, confirming her suspicions that he would indeed leave. It was only when he noticed the great sadness inside her that he realized his mistake. She turned and began to walk away from him, tears in her eyes. Anakin went after her, gently caught her by the arm, and gently turned her back towards him as he knelt to her level.
"Ahsoka," he began as he embraced her gently. Not an embrace of love, but one of friendship. He had done this many times in the past during the Clone Wars, whenever she'd lost people she cared about. This time, he was doing it because he didn't want to lose her the same way the rest of the Jedi had been lost, and he didn't want her thinking she was going to lose him. "I had to distance myself. I needed time to make some decisions." he told her.
"Anakin, I'm your Padawan. Your friend. You're like my father. You don't know what it's like, feeling your own Master barely cares." Ahsoka replied, tears beginning to stream down her face. Anakin tightened his embrace, attempting to calm her. He had contemplated this as well. In fact, Ahsoka was right. He was like her father, and she was like his daughter, as crazy as it sounded.
"Ahsoka, I know how you feel. How you must have felt all this time. And I'm sorry I wasn't there for you to help you through this. I promise, I won't leave you again." Anakin told her.
"But I sensed your conflict. You're already leaving the Order. How can you promise not to leave when you've already..." She couldn't finish. Instead, she sobbed silently.
"Is that's what's been bothering you? You thought I was leaving? Ahsoka, I told you, I'm not leaving. I couldn't do that to you, you're too close to me. I won't leave you, Obi-Wan, Padme, or anyone, ever. I'm not leaving the Order." Anakin replied in a soothing tone. It was then that she looked up at him, understanding finally dawning.
"You're not leaving? But I thought..." Ahsoka said, but was silenced.
"Of course I'm not, Ahsoka, You're like a daughter to me. Besides, it wouldn't be fair to leave you alone with just Obi-Wan to watch over you." Anakin said. Ahsoka only smiled in return.
"Well you did say I never would have made it without you, Anakin, and I still think you were right."
"Of course I am. Now, lets go Snips, the Council wants to see us. Apparently, they've reached a decision about my marriage to Padme, and what they're going to do about you."
"Don't worry. They won't expel you. And I can't imagine they'd separate us."
"They better not. You still have a lot to learn, Ahsoka." Anakin told her, keeping his arm around her shoulders as they made their way back to Watto's. When they arrived, the Council was waiting for them.
"Anakin, where have you been? The Council has been waiting for you two. I had to..." Obi-Wan began, then noticed the look in his former Padawan's eyes. He must have just had a difficult conversation with his Padawan. No wonder why he was late. He mentally communicated this with Yoda, who only sent his acknowledgment that he too had sensed this. The three walked to the back of the shop, which had been converted to a circular room, much like that of the Council Chambers of Coruscant.
"Master Kenobi, Knight Skywalker, Padawan Tano. Good it is to see you." Yoda greeted them.
"Masters." they replied. Obi-Wan took his seat on the Council. Although Anakin also held a seat on the Council because of Palpatine's bidding, he did not take it because he was sure he did not deserve it. Additionally, he didn't want to make his Padawan have to stand in front of the Council alone after what they had just been through. He'd made a promise to stay with her and to stand by her when she needed him, and he wasn't about to break it.
"Sense, we do, your attachment to your Padawan. Discussed we have, your marriage to Senator Amidala."
'Well, here it is. I'm going to get expelled' Anakin thought. Unfortunately, Ahsoka caught his thoughts.
'They need you, Anakin. They wont expel you.' She sent, keeping the most of her attention on the Council and still managing to sound sincere.
'I hope not, Snips' he sent back.
"Under normal circumstances, attachments allowed, they are not. But, changing times, these are. Realize we do now, that attachment, essential it is. Aided in your struggle to be free of the dark side, it did Skywalker." Yoda said, then paused to make sure he had everyone's attention.
"Discussed at length, attachment we did. Know, we do, that many Jedi have this quality. Agreed the Council has. Allowed, attachment is to be. What comes of it, the Council accepts. Expelled, you are not. Remain in the Order, you will." Yoda said. Anakin was surprised. he had not expected a reaction from the Council on this scale.
"Also agreed, the Council has, on another matter," Yoda continued. "Returned from the dark side, you have. Thought impossible, we did." Yoda finished.
"I don't understand, Masters." Anakin replied.
"The Council has agreed that we cannot allow the loss of an asset such as yourself." Shaak Ti answered. Still, he did not understand. Ahsoka shared a quick glance with her Master, and he then looked to his own mentor, Obi-Wan, in askance. Obi-Wan thought best not to bother waiting.
"We have decided, Anakin, that we need you. This Council confers upon you the level of Jedi Master, and asks that you take your seat on the Council," Obi-Wan told him. He couldn't believe it. After all this, they were still willing to trust him. He was overjoyed but relieved. Obi-Wan, however, was not finished. "We have also decided that it is time that we start listening to the ideas and knowledge of our younger generation. We have decided to place a Padawan learner on the Council. We have decided that you, Ahsoka, will be that choice. You won't have the broad decision making power the rest of us have, but in time, you will earn it. This is only an advisory role. It is also to fill part of the gap left by Order 66." Obi-Wan stated.
"I accept, Masters. Thank you for this honor." Ahsoka replied. But still, Obi-Wan wasn't finished.
"Also, because of this role, and your need to continue your training as a Padawan, we have decided to let you decide whether to remain Anakin's apprentice, or to choose another Master." Obi-Wan told her.
"Masters, I'm honored that you feel I should be allowed to select a new Master. I was assigned to Master Skywalker. We have a bond between us, much like that of father and daughter. I do no not wish to lose that bond. I will remain apprentice to Anakin." Ahsoka told them, and they nodded in agreement. She looked to Anakin again, smiling. He returned the look with a smile of his own.
"Very well. Adjourned the Council is. Time to rest, we shall have. Reconvene to discuss the war, tomorrow we will." Yoda announced, and everyone parted ways. It was time to bring the Republic back to its former glory.
