AN: Okay, I changed her age to almost fifteen to about sixteen, given I had the wrong information on the series. I heard it went on for six months, from the time Ahsoka became a Padawan to ROTS. ROTS was in 19 BBY, and the series started awhile after Geonosis. Currently (According to Wookiepedia) its 21 BBY. So much for accuracy in this Fic. Oh, well. Just remember that I changed it.
I'm thinking about posting a one-shot about how Anakin finally tells Ahsoka about his past, and Ahsoka's background comes up. tell me what you think, and if I should post it.
Review please. I love reviews. :)
"Ahsoka...Ahsoka?" Ahsoka sought through the haziness in her mind, trying to sort out her muddled thoughts. Her stomach rolled a little bit as she awoke, and unsettling nauseated feeling that she disliked. Cursing underneath her breath, she opened her sticky eyelids to see her master, who looked rather worried. She had fallen asleep in the copilot's seat, her head lolling to her chest in what looked like an extremely uncomfortable position. Ahsoka twisted her head, hearing the crack as she did so, and winced. It had been uncomfortable.
Ahsoka pulled a wobbly grin and managed, "I'm...great, Master." He hadn't asked, he didn't need to. Ahsoka had been his Padawan long enough to understand her master's emotions. Well, some of them. Most were so muddled, so confusing that she hardly bothered to try and sort them out. She often didn't want to. They were too un-Jedi, and she wanted to keep her master as the Hero With No Fear, not the Hero With Many Faults.
"Are you, Snips?" Anakin asked. His expression was innocent and guarded, hardly indicating that he did or didn't believe here. Ahsoka's arms folded over her chest and her chin jutted out, "Why don't you listen? I said so, didn't I?" She could practically feel his other thoughts - but that doesn't mean too much, Snips. Ahsoka was lying, she had lied before. Last time, the time that she had nearly landed herself knee - deep in trouble, Plo Koon had rescued her. Again.
But that was the first time Ahsoka felt an irritated nagging feeling pulling at her gut. She didn't know what it meant, and only now it was making sense. Anakin was changing. When he was with Captain Tarkin, when he spoke to her, he seemed darker, even with her. Well, she had sneaked on the mission, which he knew. Lost in her train of thought, Ahsoka hardly noticed Anakin was still in front of her, looking at her oddly. "What is it?" His voice was abruptly gentle, though still commanding. Still, with hidden agitation lurking underneath the layer of gentleness.
On the verge of losing control, Ahsoka bit her lower lip, "I can't." She looked up at her mentor, sadness echoing in the shadows of her eyes, yet there was a truth. She couldn't. Not now. Ahsoka looked away, staring out of the small window into space. She waited for her master to leave, but he didn't. Ahsoka nearly jumped when he set his hand on her shoulder. Guilt clouded her vision, but she met his eyes, "I - I'm sorry, Skyguy." Tears filled her eyes, and she quickly ducked to blink them back. Tears had never been a familiar sensation to the fierce Togrutan warrior. She wasn't used to the watery sensation and was surprised. Ahsoka waited for Anakin to scold her, but her merely stood up and left, his feelings left clear in the Force. When you wish, Padawan. While that comment could have seemed great, it wasn't. It was laced with impatience, tinted with anger. At her? Ahsoka didn't know. She hoped not.
He paused, halfway turned back to her and said, "We're heading into battle soon. Hope your ready." Ahsoka's lips pulled back in a feral look at his nonchalance, a small suggestion that she wasn't. She was. She would prove it. Ahsoka kicked out her legs and stood up, stretching. Anakin glanced back at her, and she stuck her tongue out as he retreated. Went too far that time, Skyguy. Not fair.
Of course, she would never say that. What kind of apprentice scolded her master? Fingers brushing one of her lightsabers for comfort, she trotted after to Anakin to the war room, her legs wobbly from exhaustion and exhilaration. Back to the war, Ahsoka mused, what else is new?
Ahsoka had been fighting for forever, now, at least it seemed that way. Separatists, a bunch of dumb-witted droids, not the resourceful clones that her army had, surrounded her. Ahsoka swung her lightsaber with half-hearted enthusiasm. She wanted a break, some water, and sleep, but, always living up to her statements, she had accompanied her master, despite his over-protective glance. Sorry, Skyguy, she had thought with gritted teeth, I am not a youngling anymore. When he picked up that thought, all he gave her was an annoyed glance. No reprimand.
Her lightsaber felt like lead. Gritting her teeth, Ahsoka grumbled something about the stupidity of the merciless battle droids. Twirling her lightsaber, her second bumping against her leg somewhat annoyingly, Ahsoka played a bit during battle. Ahsoka had gotten bored of the steady concentration of the battle, and with boredom came quirks and games to outsmart the easily outsmarted battle droids. The one problem was that Anakin didn't seem to think her ideas were always so great. In fact, they lead to several heated arguments. Ahsoka had wanted to cry out that she was fine, just having fun.
"Ahsoka!" Anakin cried out suddenly, his deep voice splitting the air. Ahsoka paused, annoyed with the constant lectures on her obedience, and turned, ready to lash out, ready to remind him of their past games. But the look on his war - hardened face stopped her. Fear, rising and falling with the Force, nearly toppling her over. Ahsoka stared at him with aghast. He was running to her - too slowly - and then. "Run! Ahsoka, just get out of here!" Confused, Ahsoka just stood there. Something was happening. The Force was shifting and screaming at her like wind pounding on her back. Danger. My life. Ahsoka wanted to stay, wanted to remain here, not just watching her Master possibly die. But the look on his face-. Anger simmered close to the surface as she stalked off, allowing her guard to slip. But she left too late, or perhaps she should have remained. A blaster bullet hit her, singing and defecting her center montral, still deep enough to send pain flying through her upper back. Oh, it was deep. This wasn't good.
Ahsoka wanted to cry out, the urge welled in her throat, but she couldn't. Tears found their way to her eyes, but she shut them, squeezing them back in. Her back arched as the fiery pain ascended down her body, burning and shockingly hot. Ahsoka's knees gave out, and she landed heavily, crashing like...oh, that was even worse. A shocking, electrical pain found its way into her shoulder, enhancing the back injury. What was that? Ahsoka tried to open her eyes to find out, but she screamed instead. Pain, hot and horrible descended upon her, forcing her to pass out, her body as limp and cold as though she was dead. She hoped she was, or at least, hoped the droids thought she was.
Anakin couldn't help wincing as he rushed to her side. Apparently seeing life in the Padawan, a MagnaGuard stopped beside her, glancing at the Jedi Knight rushing to the girl's aid. With a look of hatred, a look of triumph, the electrical stick went into Ahsoka's shoulder. The barely conscious teen let out an ear - splitting shriek. The MagnaGuard probably did the most damage, stabbing its electrostaff in her back. Anakin was beside her in no time, the Tinny split into two with his neon blue lightsaber.
Anakin watched in horror as his Padawan lay as deathly pale as a Togruta could get. He hardly knew a Togruta could get pale, but apparently, they could. Fear attacked like the beast that tried to kill him on Geonosis. Fear. The path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate...and every Jedi knew that, a law so drilled into their heads that they could recite it on key. They followed it blindly, trustingly. Attachment, Yoda said, lead to fear. And Anakin broke that four times. Shmi, Obi-Wan, Padme, and now, Ahsoka. The one he didn't want.
Anakin sat beside her, checking her for life, or maybe a sign that she was better than she looked, barely attuned to the whizzing blaster bolts. He glanced at Rex, his face stonily guarded. "Please..." His voice cracked with emotion, that overwhelming fear, "Continue. Kenobi will be here..." He turned away, angry at himself. He ran to his Padawan, his Snips, and though he knew it probably wasn't a good idea, he lifted her into his arms. He carried her to the Leveler, willing her to live. Her montral looked bad, her back were the blaster bullet went in didn't exactly look like a flesh wound, "Ahsoka," Anakin whispered, cradling the teen briefly. War had hardened him. War hurt him. He and his Padawan...they still laughed and joked, but Anakin was anything but now.
"Anakin?" The voice startled him. It shouldn't have because of the Force, but it did anyway. Anakin turned slowly, gazing into the dull blues of his former master. Obi-Wan glanced at Ahsoka's body - he couldn't see her back, but Anakin could tell that Obi-Wan felt Ahsoka's scorching pain that poured in a constant flow over her body. Obi-Wan didn't even have to ask about Anakin's thoughts. He just nodded, clearly meaning he'd return to the battle. Obi-Wan started to walk off, to descend down into the action, but he looked back, "She'll be okay."
Anakin wrinkled his nose, right, Master. Anakin certainly hoped so. Ahsoka had done it again...not listened, or cared, played in battle, nearly died. And now, now he was fighting for her life again. With an angered sigh, he glanced at the unconscious girl, wishing the walk to the Leveler was faster. When would Ahsoka realize her life was not a toy for her to play with so casually? Lost in his flaring thoughts, he barely noticed that Ahsoka was waking until she shifted, making small snuffling noises. She buried her face into his tunic, sweat beading on her forehead.
"M-M-Master." Ahsoka stumbled drunkenly on the words, "Wh-what happened?" Anakin held her tightly, not answering, not trusting himself to answer. She was hurt, and he was angry. Now wouldn't be a good time to yell at her, not yet."Master? T-tell me." Ahsoka's words were beginning to slur - how hard had she fallen? Had she hit her head? Though the Force was swarming crazily around him, though it was so hard to catch it and pin it down to calm himself, Anakin did.
"How does your head feel?" Anakin asked, trying to gentle his voice. Still feeling panicked, he wanted to at least sound okay, not at all in any unease. Ahsoka squirmed uncomfortably in his arms, forcing his hard grip to relax a little. Perhaps someday he would have to loosen up on his fears, not just to hide them, but so they didn't suffocate anybody else. Uncheered by the thought, Anakin waited for Ahsoka to answer.
"Should've asked about my lekku, shoulder, back, head, everywhere." Ahsoka grumbled. She tried to cross her arms, but instead stopped, gasping a bit with pain. Anakin could feel her consciousness slipping away again, back into the dark, dreary world. What if there was no return?
"Sh, Snips. Stay with me." Anakin whispered, running towards the Leveler's ramp. She groaned with each thumping step. Anakin could hear her one thought as though she were speaking, I am staying with you, I-I am...just don't leave me. Oh, Anakin could feel the center of her pain, that montral, burning, burning. She blinked hard, as though she wanted to say, would you stop running?
"I-I'm n-n-n-n." Ahsoka stopped for a moment, and tried again, her voice becoming so soft Anakin had to strain to hear it, "I'm not d-dying." She wasn't, Anakin thought, repeated over an over to himself, but the pain - filled whisper seemed to cost the small Togruta all her strength, and she returned to the unconsciousness state. Anakin practically Force-sprinted to the medbay, because now something had changed...
Something was slipping.
My longest chapter yet! Cool...does anyone have any ideas for any plot leading up to ROTS. I have some, so if you can suggest any, I could tie 'em everybody!