Note: If any words that should have the letter t in them are missing it, forgive me, the key is being a pain and sometimes works just fine and other times will suddenly require a harder touch then I normally do. I obviously notice if the word is one that can't be another word without it, for the program I use underlines it in red, but if its something like the/he then I don't always catch it. Why couldn't it have been the q key, lol, I hardly ever need that one XD
Also this chapter is going to take a bit of a break from the whole just Ezra or Luke/Leia bit, though this will still probably count as Ezra's chapter, we shall see where it leads us :D
Ezra was on his way to meet up with Luke when he saw both of their Masters hurrying towards the Council room. What they were going there for he could only guess but by the looks on their faces it wasn't good news. He hoped that they all weren't getting sent back out just yet. He wanted to help the galaxy, but right now he didn't feel like he could take on a Youngling, let alone the Dark Forces. Putting the thought of the possibility of going back out so soon, he smiled as he entered the Temple garden.
There he saw Luke meditating under a tree, right where he always sat and waited for Ezra when they got the chance to hang out. He settled in on the grass beside him and was about to say something when Luke said "Something isn't right, the Masters are all concerned and sad." Ezra wasn't surprised that Luke seemed to know a bit more about what was going on than he did; Luke had always been more sensitive to emotions while Ezra had always done better at connecting with animals.
Before he could ask Luke what he thought had the Masters feeling that way, Luke softly asked "Have you had any time to search for your parents?" Ezra sighed and said "No, we have been almost constantly moving and when we aren't there are too many eyes." Luke opened his eyes and gave him a sympathetic look as he replied "You'll find them someday Ezra, I know it." Ezra didn't reply, for honestly he didn't think that he would ever succeed.
Ezra was just about to ask Luke if he thought Leia would end up back at the Jedi Temple soon too, when he spotted their Masters walking towards them. The looks on their faces cause Ezra to worry, though why he didn't know, his gut just told him it wasn't going to be good. When the Masters motioned for them both to sit, Ezra knew that it was really bad. They were quiet for a moment before Obi-Wan started saying, "We have news from Alderaan."
"Maul showed up and Mace was killed, Ahsoka and Naare were injured." He continued. "What about Leia?" Luke interrupted, fear for his twin evident in his voice. Caleb and Obi-Wan shared a look, before Caleb took over and said "Maul took her." Ezra gasped as Luke groaned. "I thought she was just cloaking herself. I should have been there for her." Luke bemoaned.
"Luke…" Obi-Wan started before Luke cut him off once more "I know I couldn't have been, and I know most bonds are discouraged and all, but… Master Tiplee would understand what I mean." Ezra remembered the stories of the Mikkian Jedi and her twin sister, Tiplar. Tiplar had been killed by the Clone Tup when his chip had malfunctioned. Obi-Wan and Caleb both seemed to understand as well what Luke was talking about, for they nodded.
"Do my parents know?" Luke asked, looking at his Master. Obi-Wan shook his head and said "Ahsoka is on her way to do that now. We tried to get her to let me do it, as her injuries are rather severe, but she insisted on being the one." Ezra felt bad for Ahsoka, for he knew that she valued the friendship and trust of Anakin, this wasn't going to be easy for her at all.
XXX
Ahsoka had all she could do to hold in the moan as she got off the shuttle near Anakin and Padmé's residence when they were on Coruscant, the pain in her back was intense. She was not looking forward to their reactions to her news, particularly her old Masters, but she wouldn't have anyone else do it, it was her duty. Granted most parents didn't even know anything about their kids when they went off to be Jedi, but the Council agreed that this was a special case since Padmé may end up hearing Maul using Leia for a bargaining chip.
She limped along until she finally reached their door, which she knocked on, waiting for one or the other to answer it. She was relieved when it was Padmé who opened the door, smiling as she said "Ahsoka, this is a wonderful surprise!" Ahsoka tried to return the smile, though she felt like it was just a poor replica of one, as she asked "May I come in?" "Of course." Padmé said, motioning her in as she said the words.
As Ahsoka limped past her Padmé asked "What happened? You're limping." Ahsoka put off answering as she asked "Is Sky Guy around?" Padmé nodded and after seeing that Ahsoka was situated comfortably on a chair, she went off to get him. He came out of the kitchen area shortly thereafter, Padmé not far behind as he echoed Padmé's question "What happened Snips?"
Ahsoka took a deep breath before spilling out the whole story, from the plan to attack the camp to Mace's death, to her own injuries, to the kidnapping of Leia. When Ahsoka told them what happened to their daughter, Padmé's left hand came up and covered her mouth to hold in a sob as Anakin's face turned red. Ahsoka knew what was coming, but all the bracing and preparing in the world could not have prepared her for the onslaught of words he threw at her.
"How could you let him take her? How could you let her stay in the area knowing he was there?" On and on he vented at her, not noticing the way she had to fight to keep her own tears from falling. Padmé noticed, however, and put her hand gently on Anakin's shoulder as she said "Ani, Ahsoka did what any Jedi would do, just as Leia did what any Jedi would do. Remember how you felt when Ahsoka left? She is probably feeling just as bad if not worse about this then us. Like you, Ahsoka always took these types of things personally."
Anakin sighed and replied "You're right as always Padmé." Turning to Ahsoka, he gave her a gentle hug which finally caused her to lose control over her tears as he said "I'm sorry Ahsoka." Ahsoka sobbed "I'm sorry too Master." "You have nothing to be sorry for Snips, even Mace could do nothing." "I'll do everything I can to bring her back, I swear Master." Anakin mumbled quietly to himself "As will I."
XXX
Ezra and Luke were still outside, though they had moved closer to the Jedi Temple entrance, when Ezra saw Luke's eyes widen. Turning to look behind him, his own eyes soon matched Luke's at the sight before them. Striding into the Temple was Anakin Skywalker, with Ahsoka right behind him. From out of nowhere Obi-wan joined Ahsoka, who stopped briefly to hold a hushed conference with the older Jedi, before they both set off after Anakin.
Soon the trio was out of sight, having entered the Temple. Ezra turned his attention back to his friend and asked "What do you think that was about?" "I have no idea, but I think its going to be something big and something to do with Leia." Luke replied. Ezra nodded his head in agreement as he wished that he could be in the room to witness what had brought the Hero With No Fear back to the Jedi Temple.
XXX
Anakin barged into the Jedi Council room where almost all the Council members had gathered to discuss what to do about the kidnapping of Leia, the death of Mace, and just Maul in general. In fact Obi-Wan had been heading to the meeting when he had spotted Anakin being followed by a rather distressed looking Ahsoka. He quietly took his seat while Ahsoka stood politely by the door and Anakin waited in the center of the room for the Master's to notice him.
Yoda smiled grimly at Anakin and asked "What do for you can we?" Both Obi-Wan and Ahsoka were surprised when Anakin calmly said "Masters, I know that we agreed I would leave the Jedi, but right now, you need me. Let me back in until either this war ends, Maul's death or Maul's capture, whichever you ask. I can no longer just sit on the sidelines watching everyone around me do something to end it."
Shaak Ti, actually present for the first time in a while, asked softly "Why should we? You were a powerful Jedi, Skywalker, but you held your anger to close. Have you learned to let it go? And what of your attachment to Padmé?" Ahsoka saw it for what it was, a test to see how Anakin would answer and react. "I haven't mastered my anger, but I will not let it master me. As for my attachment to Padmé, that won't go away and its not like I am asking for a permanent return, just let me help for however long you wish."
The Masters all shared looks, each conveying how they felt about the matter and his answers. A few even whispered to those who were present via holocrons the general feelings coming from the others, though not loud enough for either Anakin or Ahsoka to make out. Finally, Yoda silenced them all by a tap of his stick on the floor. He studied Anakin quietly for a moment, looking deep within him.
Finally the Grand Master said "Agree we do to let you do this, if willing she is, Knight Tano, to keep her eye on you." Ahsoka looked stunned at the thought of being in charge of her former Master, before she bowed respectively and said "Of course Master Yoda." "Return this to you then I will." Yoda said as he lifted Anakin's lightsaber from a spot beside him. "Knew you would return for this someday I did." Yoda said as he handed it to him.
"Your rank of Knight is also temporarily restored to you." Ki-Adi-Mundi, "But remember, even though you will have charge of some Clones and other Troopers, Ahsoka is in charge of you and has the final say." "Thank you Masters." Anakin said as he received his lightsaber, "I won't let you down." With that, he and Ahsoka left the room to work out this new path, as well as to inform Padmé what had happened.
Kit Fisto leaned forward and said "What will we do about him and Luke?" "A time to be picky, this is not. If necessary, to battle they will be sent together. Keep an eye on them, Obi-Wan, you and Ashoka must." 'Yes Master Yoda." Obi-Wan replied. After that the Council once again fell into discussions about what was to be done for Leia Skywalker and to Maul.
XXX
Ezra and Luke had spent a bit longer guessing at what was going on behind the closed doors of the Council room before both settling in to meditate. Both boys had always found the practice to be more relaxing then tedious, as some of their fellow Padawans did, and could easily sit for hours, sometimes together, sometimes alone, just doing so. Today, however, was not to be one of those days. It felt like just seconds had passed, though in reality it was minutes, before Anakin and Ahsoka reappeared from within the Temple.
Both, upon spying the boys, walked over to them. Anakin had a serious look on his face, though a grin was still able to break through as he said, mainly to Luke, "I have been reinstated as a Jedi temporarily." Both boys were stunned, and Ezra watched, as well as felt, Luke's delight cross his face as he asked "Will we be working together?"
"More than likely not, but who knows what the future will bring." Ahsoka answered, earning a frown from Anakin, to which she responded "The Council may have reinstated you Anakin, and they may not be forcing you to follow all of the rules due to this, but Luke will still be here when you are gone and must follow them, though whether or not they will become desperate enough for two Skywalkers is yet to be seen."
They all visited for a while before Obi-Wan and Caleb came to join them, both informing them that not only had Caleb been appointed to join the Council, but also the words about Anakin and Luke that were shared after they left. Anakin smiled and looked down at Luke as he said "Looks like there is a new hope that we might be fighting together someday." Luke returned his father's smile, basking in the first time he was allowed to meet with him without worry about the Council catching them.
Caleb turned to Ezra and said "It's time for us to head off again unfortunately." Ezra groaned, they had only been back for a day, nothing that could be called a real rest. "I know, but duty calls." Caleb said, his own fatigue evident in his voice. Obi-Wan gave them a slightly worried look as he said "Would you like me to talk to the Council about giving the job to someone else?" He could see that master and student were both tired and really should have been allowed more time before being asked to go out again.
Ezra looked at his Master, who shook his head no as he replied "Thank you, but we will be fine. Besides, everyone is running tired these days." For the first time since they had arrived there, Ezra took a good look around the Temple. Even though there were several Jedi on break, it felt emptier then it had in times past when they had visited. Looking up at his Master he asked "Did we lose more?" His Master sighed and replied "Yes, several Knights, two Masters and quite a few Padawans unfortunately. Whether or not it was by Maul, we don't know as news of their deaths are just reaching us and the details aren't all there yet."
Ezra hoped that Petna, Mara and all the other Padawans that he was friends with were alright, but it seemed there would be no knowledge of that for some time to come. Looking at Luke, he could tell his friend felt the same and that his sister wouldn't be counted among the lost.
XXX
Later, Ezra and Caleb boarded the Ghost. Hera pretty much just shuttled them around these days, telling them that they had flown together so often she felt as if they were a part of her crew, that she consider them family. Every so often she would give other Jedi a lift, but that was only if she knew that Caleb and Ezra wouldn't be needing them. Caleb went forward to tell Hera were they were going, while Ezra headed to the lower gun.
He loved watching everything from flying close to the ground to the lanes of hyperspace from there and he found it a good place to think. They had just made the jump to hyperspace when Sabine joined him. After their greetings they were quiet for a while before Sabine asked "Is something wrong?" Ezra told her all about his friend's capture by Maul and everything else surrounding that event.
As he finished she said "I'm sorry Ezra, I hope your friend will be alright." Ezra looked out at the stars streaking by as he replied "Me too Sabine, me too."
XXX
Maul walked along the corridors of the ship. He had just had another successful attack, one which claimed yet another Jedi's life. A smirk, one which these days seemed to constantly be in place, was on his face as he thought about the prisoner he held. He had sensed something familiar about her Force signature, though different at the same time.
Though the young Jedi had remained quiet whenever he had questioned her, it only took a little bit of searching to discover her first and, more importantly, her last name. He chuckled to himself at the thought of having Skywalker's daughter aboard his ship.
He stopped in front of her cell, standing silently at the entrance. He stared at her and as she stared back at him, determination and annoyance evident in her eyes. His smirk turned into a full on smile. Oh yes, he was going to have fun breaking her spirit.
I hope Yoda sounds like Yoda. I always have trouble writing him, I always feel like I don't get his speech pattern just right. Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this chapter :D I am still open to adding favorite characters to this story if you have them, so feel free to leave a request in a review or message :D