It was all a simple dream of Zigoola, Sith planet, and how it sought to destroy Ahsoka. Or a least that was what Ahaoka reiterated to herself over and over again. But, in her soul, she knew it wasn't. She had been to the planet, or it had been transported to her own mind. The truth was harmful - almost scary, but evidently right.
She was Ahsoka, not the puppet to be controlled by the Sith. The Togruta bared her tiny, sharp teeth as she imagined a red-striped man laughing wickedly as he held strings and making her move along as he wished. Of course, in mind's eye Ahsoka was yellow-eyed and ghastly looking with pale skin. Her lekku were darkened to a near black. Shuddering, the girl whispered, "That's not me."
The funny thing was, Ahsoka could still taste the foul water, and it was bothering her immensely. She crinkled her nose as though she could smell it, and wondered it the MedDroid had anything to offer her other than cloudy, rancid liquid that burnt one's throat. She decided against asking, however.
Ahsoka's turned over and slung her arm over her forehead, trying to resist the urge to gasp out loud. Her head was screaming, but her heart was chanting. I am Ahsoka. Relief surged over the young female and her eyes blinked open. The blue in them gleamed brightly and she almost smiled to herself, because the truth had been discovered.
She was going to be all right. Even if she was killed, she would always have the Force. The warmth of truth spread through the Togruta's body, leaving her still and quiet. But 'quiet' was not a word that was a description of Ahsoka. She was ready to face the monster.
Come and get me. Her own voice in mind's eye was taunting and silly, Don't tell me you're afraid. Ahsoka hesitated, cocking her head slightly as she listened to the Force.
Die, Jedi, die.
An odd sensation probed at Ahsoka's temples, and the girl grunted to herself involuntarily. She heard the clanky movements of the MedDroid approaching her, and Ahsoka heard her voice whispering to it, "Don't come - don't try to stop it."
DIE, Jedi, die.
Ahsoka could feel presences, a mishmash of people she loved close to her. Not with her, but close enough of for her to be reassured. No one could say Ahsoka was alone anymore. The days where her best friends were Younglings who regarded her warily were over.
DIE, JEDI, DIE
Ahsoka felt her lips move, and her teeth flashed fiercely, "You're a failure." The conviction in her voice that she spoke with clearly showed how she thought of the Sith. And she hoped they were angry. In fact, she rather relished the feeling.
She felt a surge of disapproval and nearly giggled out loud. Oh, so now the Sith could not control her thoughts and feelings! He could only state what he felt. Ahsoka felt a grin, and almost wicked grin at that, spread over her lips and she heard her voice, "You're a fool to kill me this way. Or any way. I've got the Force."
DIE, JEDI, DIE, JEDI
Ahsoka heard another voice, this one old and cracked with dark wisdom, "You're the fool, child. If you were wise, you would realize that the matter of having the Force and not having the Force does not concern me. It's not about you." The Voice was enraged, like a serpent. Even after it had delivered the venom to destroy, the young victim apparently had the power to resist, and it left Ahsoka transfixed.
But the way he had called her a child gave her and oddly chilled feeling...like it was familiar. Not the way Jenx called her a "Chil'", but the way somebody had belittled her with the term only a few days before. Who had it been? Ahsoka struggled to reach out, to remember, but her mind hit a blank.
DIE, JEDI, DIE, JEDI
Ahsoka's head hurt now, it ached incredibly. The pounding pain was making her nauseous, so nauseous that the room swayed in circles. Ahsoka scrambled to sit up, least she vomit. Her head cleared for a moment, and the dizziness settled long enough for her to see.
A man with bright green eyes was in front of her, just as he'd been earlier, "Chil'? Ahsoka?" He was so worried that Ahsoka wished she had the strength to laugh it off, but she didn't believe she did. All she could do was stare as her friend gave her his fatherly, I'm-gonna-be-over-protective look. Ahsoka crossed her arms and stuck out her tongue at him.
Ahsoka stopped the childish act quickly as her body reminded her of the severity of the situation. "Jenx...you're here. How? When?" Ahsoka's eyes locked into his, and he pulled a montral gently.
Jenx didn't seem to want to answer, and he kept glancing behind him. Ahsoka felt the angry presence of the Chosen One and felt a flash of 'no wonder'. Jenx wouldn't let on about AHsoka's midnight ventures, or at least, she hoped not. "The dreams, isn't it? The Voice. Oh, Ahsoka...it doesn't matter how. Just why...your master's coming."
Ahsoka's eyes rolled and she let loose a sigh, despite the pain in her head, and the Voice trying to talk to her once more, "Tell him he can't help me." Ahsoka grumbled, wishing that her Master wasn't so overly protective. She heard Jenx chuckle...
DIE, JEDI, DIE, JEDI, die
Ahsoka felt her stomach squeeze and she groaned out loud. She hated this, hated it so much. But she felt somebody take her shoulders and when she leaned over, the hands guided her. "Yuck." Ahsoka growled to herself when her stomach emptied it's contents. "I'm sorry."
"Least I could do." She heard the curt answer in that general-deepened voice, and instantly knew it was Anakin. She felt another presence...Obi-Wan?...beside him
"This isn't a party." She grumbled, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. She glanced at Obi-Wan and saw the worry in his blue-gray eyes, but also that slight flash of humor.
DIE, JEDI, DIE JEDI, DIE
Obi-Wan pushed Anakin away irritably, and her Master shot him an ill-tempered glare that Ahsoka found herself giving a small smile, a smile that she knew made her Master want to wipe it clean of her face. The pain was too much for any more snappish, childish acts, and Ahsoka wished she could, but...but...
Obi-Wan's eyes were incredibly intense with worry, and Ahsoka knew how much he wanted to help her. It felt rather foolish to turn him away, but Ahsoka knew. Her bright eyes filled with sorrow as she said, "I'm so sorry, Master Obi-Wan. Nothing you can do."
He shook his head, "No. Ahsoka, I hear it. I've heard it before..." Of course. He had been with it before, and survived. Ahsoka looked at him and nodded, her silka beads clicking gently.
DIE JEDI DIE JEDI DIE
Ahsoka would scream, but she wasn't sure she could. She was losing her thin margin of control slowly. In her blurred vision, she saw Obi-Wan and Jenx leave at Anakin's request to be alone. She saw the hope in Anakin's blue eyes diminishing.
He was a fool, Ahsoka decided. He shouldn't just give up on me.
DIE JEDI DIE JEDI DIE
She was dying, her life Force dwindling. Ahsoka felt incredibly weak and she struggled to remain sitting up. She couldn't, and fell backwards and would've gone of the small cot had Anakin not caught her.
His voice was cracking with fear and anger, "I've got you, Snips." Ahsoka's sticky eyelids opened, and, framed between her eyelashes, Anakin stood, the regal Chosen One near crying. It would have made Ahsoka giggle at one time, but not now.
She drew in a deep breath in hopes that she could speak, and found her voice, "You must...let go." Her voice was thin and reedy, but the truth of the matter was behind it with strength.
Ahsoka couldn't hear anymore, but she could see Anakin shaking his head and see his lips form the words, "No! Never!" Her hand trembled, but she pressed into his and gave a weak smile and a small nod.
DIE JEDI DIE JEDI DIE
Ahsoka felt her muscles go limp and she tried to push herself up once more, but the most movement she could muster was pushing her head slightly above the pillow. Anakin's eyes were glazed and he looked a monster. Ahsoka would've screamed, would've pushed herself away when she saw what he was becoming. Instead, in her heart, she found the exhausted sadness but she didn't let it bind into the Force.
Her lips parted slightly, "Thank you." Her voice was so soft that she could hardly hear it, but she knew Anakin did by the way he turned to her.
His eyes glistened with unshed tears, and his voice was cracked and parched as though he was dying of thirst in the Tatooine desert. "Ahsoka." Was all he said, but there was so much more in his soul.
Ahsoka felt another wave of pain rise and fall and she was forced back onto her back, winded, but at peace. Her vow...could she find the strength...?
DIE JEDI DIE JEDI DIE
Ahsoka had to think about each breath, how much air she drew in. She was only aware of the pain, and what she couldn't hear any longer. She could tell Anakin was shouting at someone, and her peripheral vision revealed it to be the Med droid. The droid was cringing, and in his grasp was another glass of that liquid.
Ahsoka groaned inwardly, and nudged Anakin with her foot. He snapped around, his eyes wild and he looked at her with fear. She watched his lips move relentlessly, and she shook her head slightly to show she couldn't hear.
Another wave of panic rose within him, and he turned to Med droid, shouting again. Ahsoka's eyes fluttered shut, halfway out of disgust, halfway out of exhaustion. When she opened one eye, she saw Anakin pointing to her, nearly dissolved into a crumpled mess of ruin. Force, he had to learn to cope...
DIEJEDIDIEJEDIDIE
Ahsoka wasn't just how much more she could physically take. Very little, she supposed. Her breathing was growing faster and faster, and she no longer had the energy to actually feel the pain she was in. It seemed to be the the only plus.
She felt Anakin touch her shoulder, and her eyes opened. She tried to move, but all she could do was flex her finger and that sent waves of nausea through her upper core. She tried to groan, but no sound came from her lips.
DIEJEDIDIEJEDIDIE
The silence transformed into a steely roar, and Ahsoka could only see the pain she was in. Then the memories came to her, some that seemed like a long-forgotten dream, some that had actually been a dream. If Ahsoka could speak, she would've cried, "Mama..."
Mai was throwing her baby Togruta's blanket in the wash, the look in her eyes all too exhausted while Ahsoka screamed relentlessly. The infant stopped when her mother commanded her to, and popped a thumb in her mouth and sucked noisily.
She saw a very young version of herself in the middle of a speeder track, about to be hit, then the very annoyed boy's look as he carelessly redeemed Ahsoka. Mai was in tears as she clutched her daughter to her chest.
Her daddy ramming a pole at Mai to murder her, and her small home in bright red and orange flames. She watched Aron sell her into slavery with grim satisfaction, as though the small baby had caused him some great pain.
There was the Akul fight...why had she ever thought she was big enough? Why did she always think she was big enough? It was beyond Ahsoka, but as she watched the littler form of herself move, she subconsciously pinched herself.
DIE JEDI DIE JEDI DIE
The pinch had lessened the pain inflicted upon her. Interested the young teen, and she sunk back into the memories.
Darth Vader. The Togruta's lips pulled back at the name as she listened to his raspy baritone without interest. Her hands balled into fists and she realized she could move.
She watched Padme's twins as Anakin and his wife held them, and Anakin's thoughts no longer on her. Ahsoka's hands retracted and lay limp at her sides again upon realization that remembering did not help her, or at least the bad things.
But she could think.
DIEJEDIDIEJEDIDIE
What was her vow? She had a vow, didn't she? No, she had...something. Ahsoka racked her brain to bring that memory to surface...Anakin kissing Padme, Yashaka trying to kill her...that wasn't helping her. Ahsoka's eyelids fluttered.
I am...
DIEJEDIDIEJEDIDIE
Ahsoka Tano. That was it. Ahsoka felt her eyelids flutter open and she centered herself, centered her strength. I am Ahsoka Tano! In her mind, she sought out the source, and found that it was not hard to find.
The Sith had made such a silly mistake...
DIEJEDIDIEJEDIDIE
They had left a shattered replica of the object on Zigoola, and she could find it in her mind, the source, so easily. Ahsoka fixated herself onto the gleaming red gem and began to channel her energy into it.
DIEJEDIDIEJ...
A crack ran alongside it, and beside it stood a very surprised looking Sith Lord. Ahsoka could not make out his face, but she could practically test his anger. It streamed into the Force and he grabbed at the stone as though he could keep it from destruction.
DIEJED...
The crack got longer, and it split, shattering into a million red pieces. Ahsoka stared at it, her blue eyes round and she grinned to herself as the Sith let a terrible cry of anger. It echoed in her lekku and she hadn't realized she was in a trance until now, when she was surfacing.
Ahsoka pushed herself up as the pain left her head. The Med Droid was quaking with fear, and Anakin stared at her with wonder. When Ahsoka managed to find her voice, she croaked, "What?"
Anakin put a hand on her shoulder and said, "Oh, Snips...what was that? What...?"
Ahsoka wiggled her shoulder slightly, and Anakin let go, still looking at her with awe. It made Ahsoka nervous, and when she looked in his eyes she found absolute amazement, "Master, what are you talking about? I stopped...I just won...My nightmares are gone, over." It took Ahsoka three tries to say what she wanted to, but Anakin ignored her.
"I could feel it...the dark energy trying to consume you...and your power." Anakin hesitated once more, still stunned into an absolute quietness. Strength streamed through Ahsoka's body. She jolted when she saw what she had done.
She had beat the Sith.
This was a weird chapter, but I hope you like it. Review!