Thank you to the 23 people who reviewed the last chapter. As always, you guys are the greatest. So now we enter into the Clone Wars movie arc, which is taking place six months earlier. I am going based on a different timeline since LucasFilm hasn't yet revealed how the Clone Wars TV series fits into the timeline of the movies and the books so I'm making up my own timeline. Once again, this is AU.

Chapter 12

"They're coming back," Anakin called from where he was standing beside Rex at the head of the group.

Obi-Wan jogged over to join Anakin as a cannon blast flew at them before he shook his head. "I knew this would happen," he muttered before glancing up. "All right, time for our next plan. Cody, battle stations."

"Rex, follow me," Anakin called and Obi-Wan watched as he, Rex and the clones that were with him hurried away. He shook his head even though he knew Anakin's plan worked the last time around before he glanced at Cody and the two of them, along with the clones who were accompanying him, began their portion of the plan.

"Ready the cannons," Cody called to the clones who were stationed at the heavy cannons and Obi-Wan watched as the cannons slammed into the second wave of droids lead by General Loathsom. The first wave had been defeated only barely after Obi-Wan and Anakin confronted Asajj Ventress, the dark side acolyte who was responsible for the scar above Anakin's eye and a few other events that occurred in the last six months and Cody and Rex discovered a spy among the troops that sabotaged the weapons depot forcing Obi-Wan and Anakin to send their ship back to get more supplies.

However, Obi-Wan knew that was going to happen and that was why he had the cannons loaded and prepared for the second wave of droids. He knew that it wouldn't be long before Loathsom retreated and activated the deflector shields and, when that happened, he will just have Anakin and Ahsoka, when the new Padawan arrived, take it out. That was one thing that he decided not to change; it would be a good bonding moment for Anakin and Ahsoka.

While Anakin still didn't want to take on an apprentice, Obi-Wan knew that he wouldn't mind having Ahsoka as an apprentice once he sees how alike they are. As it was, Anakin had matured a bit since the war began and Obi-Wan wondered if that maturity would help him not react the way he did last time when he was introduced as Ahsoka's new master.

Well, I suppose only time will tell if things play out as they did last time, Obi-Wan thought igniting his lightsaber and leaping into the fray at Cody's side as the droids who survived the cannon blasts got a bit too close to their encampment.

He deflected blaster bolts back at the droids who were firing at him before slicing through other droids who got too close him or Cody or any of the clones that were near him. His lightsaber moved like a blur of blue energy and blasterfire was redirected back at the droids almost as soon as it hit the glowing blue blade.

Obi-Wan watched as Anakin leapt downward in his attack from above with his lightsaber blazing back and forth blocking blasterfire and the clones, who simply activated their jetpack to fly into the middle of the fray, fired on the droids.

"Retreat," the lead droid called before it turned around and began its retreat.

"Roger, roger," the other droids said before they also turned around and began moving in the direction they had originally come in.

Obi-Wan lowered his blade before deactivating it and glancing up at the sky. It was around this time that the transport carrying Ahsoka arrived and, sure enough, he could see the transport streaking over the battlefield to a landing area beyond the cannons. Anakin walked over to join him with his lightsaber clipped to his belt eyes also on the transport.

"Well, it looks like reinforcements have finally arrived," Anakin said.

"Or at least a ship that we can use to contact the Resolute and inquire where our reinforcements are," Obi-Wan said with a shrug.

Anakin glanced at him before nodding and the two of them walked past the clones toward the transport as the main engines shut off and the boarding ramp lowered. Ahsoka Tano, with a lightsaber clipped to her belt and a Padawan braid of beads hanging behind her left ear, walked down the boarding ramp.

Anakin's brow furrowed. "A youngling? Who might you be?" he asked.

"I'm Ahsoka," the Togruta said coming to a stop in front of them. "Master Yoda sent me. He said it is urgent that you contact the Jedi Temple. A matter of grave concern has risen up."

"We're in a bit of a predicament here, youngling," Obi-Wan said. "We're outnumbered and need help and our communications haven't exactly been reliable."

Ahsoka frowned. "Master Yoda just sent me with this message and it was probably because he couldn't get in touch with you," she said.

"Great, they don't even know we're in trouble," Anakin muttered frustration coloring his tone.

"Maybe we can relay a signal through the shuttle that just dropped me off," Ahsoka suggested before Obi-Wan could.

Obi-Wan smiled inwardly. "A good idea, young one," he said before he glanced at his former apprentice who was examining Ahsoka curiously. "Come, let's see if we can do what Ahsoka suggested."

Ahsoka nodded before she turned around and made her way back into the transport while Anakin walked at Obi-Wan's side after her. "I remember her," he said to Obi-Wan. "I watched her duel with another youngling during the Initiate trial that Master Yoda was hosting a week before we came here."

"If that is the case then I doubt she's a youngling any longer. She is likely a new Padawan," Obi-Wan said casually.

"Maybe," Anakin replied thoughtfully.

Anakin waited beside Obi-Wan and Ahsoka while Cody attempted to contact the Resolute and it wasn't long before Yoda's holographic image appeared. The diminutive green Jedi Grand Master rested his fingers on his gimer stick as he observed Obi-Wan and Anakin through beady green eyes.

"Contact you we have been trying to, Master Kenobi," Yoda said.

"My apologies, Master Yoda, our communications haven't exactly been reliable," Obi-Wan said. "We're in trouble, Master. We're outnumbered and all our transports have been destroyed."

"Help you we will. Send transports to help we shall as soon as we can." Whatever Yoda was about to say was cut off as the hologram flickered before completely dying.

"We've lost the signal, General Kenobi," Cody said.

Obi-Wan caressed his beard eyes narrowed in thought. "Well, that's not good," he said before he sighed. "We'll just have to make do with what we have." He then turned his gaze to Ahsoka and added, "I do believe introductions are in order. I am Obi-Wan Kenobi."

Anakin glanced at his former master but decided not to ask why Obi-Wan decided to introduce himself first. "I'm Anakin Skywalker," he said glancing back at Ahsoka.

"I'm the new Padawan, I'm Ahsoka Tano," Ahsoka replied.

"It is very nice to meet you, Ahsoka," Obi-Wan said politely. "Since you are a new Padawan, who might your master be?"

"Master Yoda assigned me to Master Skywalker."

Anakin's eyes went wide with surprise. "What?" he exclaimed. "But that doesn't make any sense. I told Master Yoda I wasn't ready to take on an apprentice."

"Master Yoda only told me that I am assigned to Anakin Skywalker and he is to oversee my Jedi Training," Ahsoka said.

Anakin opened his mouth to protest but, before he could, Obi-Wan intervened. "Well, congratulations my friend. I am sure, if you give each other a chance, you'll do well together," he said.

Anakin glowered at his former master but Obi-Wan merely held his gaze until Anakin looked away. "I'm going to find Rex," he grumbled under his breath before walking away.

"May as well take her with you, Anakin."

Anakin merely nodded sharply and continued walking with Ahsoka just behind him. What he said earlier was right; it didn't make any sense. He told Master Yoda that he wasn't ready to take on an apprentice. So why would Yoda assign her to me? It makes no sense whatsoever, he thought.

"General Skywalker," Rex's voice brought Anakin out of his thoughts and he glanced up to find Rex examining him.

"Captain Rex," he greeted the clone captain.

Rex glanced at Ahsoka who had come to a stop at Anakin's side. "Who's the youngling?" he asked.

"I'm Master Skywalker's Padawan. The names Ahsoka Tano," Ahsoka said.

Rex frowned. "I thought you said you weren't ready to take on a Padawan, General," he said.

"There's been a mix up, the youngling's not with me," Anakin muttered.

"Stop calling me that, "Ahsoka protested before she added cheekily, "you're stuck with me Skyguy."

Anakin bristled at the nickname and matters were made worse when Rex chuckled. "What did you just call me?" he protested glowering but Ahsoka merely held his gaze. "Don't get snippy with me, young one. Why don't you accompany Captain Rex and he can teach you a little bit about respect." He was irritated only because for one, he was assigned to an apprentice when he specifically told Master Yoda he wasn't ready for one and, for another, his apparent new apprentice had disrespected him in front of the clone captain.

"Ah sure," Rex said clearly uncertain before he glanced at Ahsoka. "Come along, youngling."

Ahsoka glowered at the title but said nothing as she followed Rex and Anakin was left alone with his thoughts.

Ahsoka walked alongside the clone captain a bit annoyed with her new master brushing her off as he did but she found she had to consider it from his point of view. He said, point blank, he wasn't ready for an apprentice and that made Ahsoka wonder if his attitude toward her was just because he felt unready to be a master.

Ahsoka shook her head. She decided she would worry about that later. She had to think about the here and now and the battle she found herself a part of. She glanced at the cannons that lined the streets before her lips curved into a small frown. "Wouldn't it be a good idea to move the cannons back a bit?" she asked curiously. "It'd give them a bit more cover."

"General Skywalker thinks they're fine where they are," Rex replied.

Ahsoka opened her mouth to reply but, before she could, she spotted something. She narrowed her eyes before examining the glowing reddish shield that was approaching the Republic forces. She glanced at Rex. "What's that?" she asked pointing to the shield even though it was obvious what it was.

"Not good. We'd better go tell the generals," said Rex before he turned around and began making his way back the way they had come. Ahsoka had to jog to keep up with the clone captain's long strides as they returned to the command post where they found Obi-Wan and Anakin.

"Sir," Rex said saluting. "The enemy is approaching again but this time they have a shield with them." He ran his fingers over the console and a topographic view of Crystal City; the only thing that was different was the advancing droid army and the shield that surrounded them.

"Well, that's not good at all," Obi-Wan said eyes narrowed. "I don't think our cannons will be able to penetrate the shield and if we lose the cannons then we will only have a slim chance of defeating the Separatists and driving them away from Christophsis."

"If the shield's such a big problem then why don't we just take it out?" Ahsoka asked frowning. It sounded like the sensible thing to do even if it would be difficult to get past enemy lines in order to take it out.

Obi-Wan inclined his head slightly in Ahsoka's direction in a clear sign of approval.

"Easier said than done," Cody said from where he was standing beside Rex.

"Well, I agree with her," Anakin said examining the topographic display. "Someone needs to get to the shield generator and destroy it."

"Why don't you two just slip beyond enemy lines and take care of it yourself?" Obi-Wan suggested casually.

Ahsoka nodded in agreement. "Sounds like a plan. Come on Master," she said before she began walking away.

"If we make it out of this alive, Snips," Anakin said irritably his longer strides making it easy for him to catch up with her, "you and I are going to have a little talk."

The two of them walked away from the command post to what was left of the weapons and they grabbed a backpack before filling it with charges. Without a word, Anakin led the way toward the edge of the encampment and up the steps to one of the destroyed buildings that would give them a pretty good view of the advancing droid army.

Ahsoka watched as her master pulled out a set of macrobinoculars and examined the advancing droid army. "So what's the plan?" she asked.

Anakin glanced at her faint amusement in his eyes. "Oh I thought you were the one with the plan," he said.

"No, I'm the one with enthusiasm. You're the one with the experience, which I look forward to learning," Ahsoka said.

Anakin rolled his eyes but the gleam of amusement didn't disappear as he returned his attention to the advancing droid army. "Well, our biggest challenge will be to get past the line of droids," he said.

"Why not go around, outflank them?" Ahsoka suggested.

"It would take too long."

"Cut through the middle then."

"That wouldn't work unless you were a…droid." Anakin fell silent and Ahsoka, not noticing her master was deep in thought, sighed.

"I guess my first lesson will be to wait while you come up with a plan," she said.

"Well, wait's over," Anakin said lowering the macrobinoculars and looking at Ahsoka. "I have an idea."

Obi-Wan watched the advancing droids mind working out the possibilities that were swarming around in his head. There were a couple of things he could do to delay the droids but he needed to give Anakin and Ahsoka enough time to reach the shield generator. The last time, he had given himself up to Loathsom and did some negotiating but that only bought Anakin a little bit of time.

He sighed inwardly before glancing at Rex and Cody who were at his side with their blasters in their hands. Behind them were the clones that weren't firing near the heavy cannons. "All right, are you ready?" he asked.

"Ready sir," Rex and Cody said.

"Then let's get moving. We need to delay the droids for as long as possible," Obi-Wan said igniting his lightsaber and he dashed into the middle of the fray lightsaber blazing back and forth as it sliced through each and every droid in his way. Rex, Cody and the other clones fired rapidly at the droids and Obi-Wan could see some of them resorting to hand-to-hand combat whenever a droid got to close.

Obi-Wan winced as death after death struck through the Force and he forced himself to focus on the matter at hand. It felt odd to be feeling the same deaths in the Force a second time around; the first time had been bad enough. Obi-Wan pushed that thought away before stabbing a battle droid in the chest and took off the head of another battle droid once he pulled his lightsaber free from the first one.

He, Rex and Cody made their way deeper into the throng of droids. They had gotten inside the deflector shields in the same exact way Anakin and Ahsoka got through the shields, at least as far as Anakin told him when he was recounting what happened when they returned to Coruscant. However, the fighting was much more intense within the shields than without but Obi-Wan knew he had to work quickly if he was to prevent the shields from reaching the heavy cannons.

Blast it, Anakin. I really hope you don't take too long to get the shield down, Obi-Wan thought as he sliced through another droid.

"My legs are hurting. I have to stand up," Ahsoka said.

Anakin shook his head at the young Togruta's words. "We need to be careful," he said also standing up. "We don't know what we will run into." As if his words had been some sort of jinx, the two of them ended up running into a droid knocking them down and revealing the droideka who whirled around and immediately opened fire.

"You see what I mean," Anakin said lightsaber ignited and moving rapidly back and forth to deflect the blaster bolts from the droideka. He and Ahsoka scrambled backwards before pushing themselves to their feet still deflecting the blasterfire back at the droideka. An idea came to Anakin's mind and he glanced at Ahsoka.

"Run," he called.

"What? Jedi don't run," Ahsoka shouted back.

"I said run," Anakin called before he turned around and ran off with Ahsoka, glowering, just behind him. Just as he expected, the droideka lowered its shields and rolled after them. Once they were a good distance away, Anakin called for Ahsoka to stop.

"Make up your mind," Ahsoka called back.

"I said stop," Anakin called again.

Ahsoka, realization dawning in her eyes came to a stop before swinging her blade to slice through the droideka as it rolled past her and Anakin's blade flashed to finish it off. "Very good, you take orders nicely," Anakin commented clipping his lightsaber to his belt. At least a bit better than I did when I was an apprentice, he thought as the two of them made their way toward the shield generator.

When they reached the shield generator, Anakin examined it. "We should be cautious," he began.

"Come on, Master. It doesn't look too hard," Ahsoka called getting to her feet and making her way toward the generator.

"Wait, Ahsoka," Anakin protested sensing the trap.

Ahsoka ignored him until she tripped over an antenna and fell to the ground just as a combat droid appeared and began firing at her even as more combat droids appeared.

Anakin scowled. "Forget about the droids, set those charges," he shouted as he sliced through one droid and began to fight his way toward the generator keeping an eye on the young Togruta as she began to set the charges on the generator.

Anakin sliced through another droid before watching as Ahsoka, barely managing to evade a combat droid who had appeared behind her, Force pushed it out of the way only to send it flying across the stone ground immediately alerting the rest of the combat droids to the fact that they were there.

"Sorry," Ahsoka called.

Anakin scowled. "Who's side are you on?" he called back slicing through another droid. He was too far away to hear Ahsoka's murmured reply as he continued to slice through combat droid after combat droid.

Ahsoka finished setting the charges while Anakin was being pushed backwards with the blaster bolts the combat droids kept shooting at him. Ahsoka glanced at him. "Skyguy, don't move," she called before Anakin felt her reach out with the Force.

"Wait, what…?" Anakin broke off when he spotted that he had found himself beneath one of the walls. There was a hole cut in the center of it but he noticed that Ahsoka was pulling it downward toward him.

Anakin covered his head but the hole passed over him and the stone wall slammed into the combat droids destroying them. Anakin stared at the destroyed droids and the wall that surrounded him before he glanced at Ahsoka who was trying to get her breath back. That was pretty reckless of her, he thought, but she did save my life even if she did almost get me killed.

"You almost got me killed," he called to the young Togruta.

"I saved your life though," Ahsoka shouted back.

True, Anakin thought before he sighed and made his way to Ahsoka's side. The young Togruta was reckless but Anakin couldn't help but be reminded of himself when he was her age. He wondered if this was what Obi-Wan had to deal with and decided that it probably was. He continued to examine Ahsoka as the young Togruta leapt down from the generator.

Maybe this apprenticeship could work out, he thought.

Obi-Wan eyed the droids and the shields. It was now getting dangerously close to the heavy cannons and Obi-Wan knew if they lost the cannons then they would likely lose the battle. He signaled for the troops to retreat before dashing back the way he had come into one of the buildings that had been destroyed during the first wave of the assault on Crystal City.

"Rex, where are you?" he called into his comlink.

"Right behind you, sir," Rex said and Obi-Wan turned around to find Rex hurrying into the building with what was left of his unit just behind him. "They worked out most of my unit. We had to pull out of there!"

Obi-Wan grimaced. "The shield's almost at the heavy cannons," he said.

"We're not going to be able to stop them, sir," said Rex.

Obi-Wan remembered what happened the first time around and he found himself hoping it would work again. "Move your troops back to the cannons. Protect them at all costs. I'll do what I can to delay the droids," he ordered.

"Yes sir," Rex said before he called out an order through the built in comlink in his helmet and began the retreat. Obi-Wan ignited his lightsaber before leaping up and stabbing the super battle droid that had come up behind him before slicing upward and deflecting the blaster bolt of another droid back into it.

The tank that Obi-Wan knew carried General Loathsom in it drifted forward along with many battle droids and super battle droids walking around it. Obi-Wan watched as Loathsom appeared from the top of the tank. "General Kenobi, it's a pleasure to meet someone as distinguished as yourself," Loathsom said.

"I surrender," Obi-Wan replied calmly before watching as a super battle droid took his weapon. "But, before I tell my troops to lay down their weapons, I think we should negotiate the terms of surrender."

Loathsom's eyes narrowed. "Yes, I suppose you are right," he said before he disappeared into the tank and Obi-Wan smiled inwardly.

Ah, just like last time, he thought before he flicked his gaze to the shield generator. Now if only Anakin would get the shield down sooner than last time then things would have gone better than the first time around.

He watched as Loathsom approached him with his droid just behind him before he used the force to pick up one of the crystals and create a little table with two smaller crystals to use as chairs. "And don't you think it would be nice to have some refreshments?" he asked calmly.

"You," Loathsom ordered sitting down across the table from Obi-Wan, "bring us something liquid."

The little droid who had accompanied Loathsom nodded before it disappeared into the ship. It reappeared several minutes later as Obi-Wan and Loathsom began negotiating; Obi-Wan decided to stall the same way he had last time while at the same time wishing Anakin would get a move on.

The droid handed the drinks to Loathsom and Obi-Wan before walking away and Obi-Wan sipped at it watching Loathsom take a huge drink of his tea. Hurry up, Anakin, he sent through the Force hoping that things would turn out at least a little bit different than they had last time.

Ahsoka came to a stop in front of Anakin who was watching the battle that could barely be seen from their current position before he glanced at her. "Did you set the charges?" he asked.

"Yes," Ahsoka replied.

"Well?"

Ahsoka glanced at her master before activating the charges. The shield generator blew up and Ahsoka watched as the shield began to dissipate leaving the droid army that were some ways away from where the two Jedi were standing defenseless to the heavy cannons. She glanced at her master who was also watching the disappearing shield before she walked over to the destroyed generator and sat down.

She had acted foolishly and recklessly when she saved her master's life. She was just thinking about destroying the droids and saving her master but she supposed she didn't think things through. She may have passed the Initiate trials but she found herself wondering if she was truly ready to become a Padawan.

Am I too young? Am I really still a youngling like Master Skywalker thinks? She wondered silently as she gazed at the ground not noticing her master return to her side nor did she notice the arrival of the reinforcements.

"You're reckless little one," Anakin said finally breaking the silence. "You would never have made it as Obi-Wan's Padawan." He felt silent for a long moment before glancing at her and Ahsoka glanced up to find a small smile on her master's face.

"But you might make it as mine," he said.

Ahsoka, recognizing the sense of acceptance in her master's eyes and through the Force, smiled back.

"Come on, let's get back," Anakin said patting Ahsoka on the shoulder before getting to his feet and walking over to the gunship that had appeared in front of them.

"Great job, General," Rex said from where he was standing in the opening of the gunship as Anakin leapt onto it and Ahsoka followed him. He then glanced at Ahsoka before smiling slightly and adding, "You too, kid."

Ahsoka smiled back.

Obi-Wan, after handing Loathsom over to the other clones to deal with and joining Yoda who had accompanied the reinforcements that had arrived, watched as the gunship carrying Rex, Anakin and Ahsoka landed. The two of them walked over but Obi-Wan knew things had gone exactly as they had last time. Anakin accepted Ahsoka as his apprentice in spite of her rather reckless nature.

Her reckless nature is so much like Anakin's, Obi-Wan thought remembering all that Ahsoka had gotten into during the war the first time around. Even the first time around, I wasn't surprised that Anakin found a kindred spirit in his apprentice.

"Master, Master Yoda," Anakin greeted them with a slight incline of his head.

"Problems with your new Padawan have there been, hmmm?" Yoda asked.

"I just told him you felt you weren't ready to take on a Padawan," Obi-Wan added when Anakin glanced at him.

"While I admit Ahsoka's a little rough around the edges but with a great deal of training and patience, she might amount to something," Anakin replied.

The king of impatience talking about patience, Obi-Wan thought.

Shut up master, Anakin sent back obviously having heard that thought but Obi-Wan just smiled amusement glittering in his blue-gray eyes.

"Then go you will to the Teth system," Yoda said.

Anakin frowned. "But that's Wild Space. The droid army isn't even there," he said.

"Kidnapped Jabba the Hutt's son has been," Yoda said glancing at the ground before he looked up. "Negotiate the treaty with Jabba, Obi-Wan will. Find the renegades that hold Jabba's son, your mission will be, Skywalker."

"Doesn't sound too bad," Ahsoka said. "Come on, master. I'll go find Rex." With that, the young Togruta jogged off.

"Don't worry about her, Anakin," Obi-Wan said gently. "Just teach her everything I taught you and she'll turn out fine."

"Why do I get the feeling this was your idea to begin with?" Anakin asked glancing at Obi-Wan who merely smirked and said nothing in response. Anakin turned around before jogging after his apprentice while Obi-Wan turned his gaze to Yoda.

"Well, I'd better get going if I want to negotiate a treaty with Jabba," he said inclining his head to Yoda before making his way toward his starfighter.

Climbing into his starfighter, Obi-Wan activated the main engines before ordering Arfour to input the coordinates for Tatooine so that they may make the jump to hyperspace as soon as they attached with the hyperspace ring that hung in orbit around the planet. As the starfighter blasted off toward space, Obi-Wan found himself wondering how it was that, so far, he has been unable to stop a lot of the events that have already occurred.

The Force sent you back to this time because it felt you could make the necessary changes to change the future into a better one. The Force did not send you back to change every little thing, Qui-Gon's words repeated themselves in Obi-Wan's mind.

Well, I am only one Jedi. I cannot change everything like Qui-Gon said. Christophsis is just among the events that I have no control over, Obi-Wan thought as the starfighter connected with the hyperdrive ring. Once the coordinates were in place, Obi-Wan pulled the hyperspace lever and the starfighter disappeared into lightspeed.

A/n what do you think?

Blaze: Teth will probably happen the same exact way it did in the movie as will, probably, Tatooine although there will be a twist at the end of the Tatooine scene

Darth: Teth is going to be its own chapter as is Tatooine

Blaze: and, for all of you Siriwan fans out there, the chapter after the Tatooine chapter will be mostly Siriwan

Obi-Wan: YAY!

Anakin: master, is there something you'd like to tell me?

Obi-Wan: erm… (Takes off in Sirius's flying motorcycle)

Anakin: ah come on, why won't you answer me? (Flies after Obi-Wan in Mace's flying Mustang)

Mace: THAT'S MINE! (Chases after Anakin on Voldy's broom running Palpy and Voldy over as he did so)

Blaze: (chuckles) please review and I will post chapter 13 as soon as I possibly can but I doubt it'll be anytime soon