I'm so, so, so sorry for my lack of updates guys. A lot has been going on with college work, applying for University and the finance stuff associated with it. I've had coursework, classwork, and I'm going to have to devote more time to studying and all that. My exams are coming up which I need to get good marks in as well...Not to mention I attempted to write an actual novel for my Extended Project. So I've been very busy and unable to write all that often. I'm hoping this chapter will at least make up for that a little bit. If not feel free to kill me.
Leia pretended to be asleep as she watched her friend go through her morning exercises, albeit tweaked to deal with her newest injuries. The young human left her eyes half open, tracking each movement Ahsoka made with her body in patient awe. She had heard stories of Ahsoka's prowess in battle, she had heard most of them from her mother admittedly since her father wouldn't talk when she asked. but she had always admired the hero of those stories. She wondered briefly about the story Ahsoka had told her, about what her own father had tried to do. Sure she had been told by Yoda, and Obi-Wan and the others. But they were also the ones, well mainly Yoda, who had tried to denounce Ahsoka's actions as derived from selfish motivations.
Were they wrong?
Leia went back to watching Ahsoka. She had heard the stories, and it was only the most strict of the Jedi that continued to attack what Ahsoka had done, including her own father. Although he not as much. Every movement Ahsoka made she tracked. It was impressive, they way Ahsoka was still pushing herself.
"If you want to join, then do so." Ahsoka's voice flittered from her exercising form.
"But...I like watching you…"
"Trust me, doing is a lot more fun that watching."
The young Skywalker sighed but got up from her bunk and walked over, next to where Ahsoka was going through some kata's perfectly. Leia started on something resembling the unarmed ones Anakin had begun teaching her. Ahsoka smiled a little, remembering doing those kata's herself from she was but a padawan, and continued her own katas as she watched Leia's. Slowly the togruta began to change them to the same ones the girl was completing and smirked to herself when the Skywalker girl began changing her own to fit the more perfected version. So, mindful of her injuries, Ahsoka slowly began in increase her speed. Leia followed suit. It was intriguing to observe.
"Find a speed that suits you Leia…"
"I can do it.."
Ahsoka chuckled. "That's what I used to say."
They continued for a while longer, Ahsoka slowly pushing herself more and more as her body got used to the movement again. She had sat around for several days and was already behind, she had to catch up. Leia was soon struggling to keep up with the older girl, some of her movements becoming a bit sloppy to compensate for the speed. Of course, she was doing quite well with them. Better than Ahsoka had when she had first learned them, but then Leia probably would have been doing them for longer than her as well. She kept her speed stable for a few moments to allow Leia time to re-sharpen her actions.
"You're doing well…" She commented.
"I've been doing them for years, Dad started us early with them."
"Doesn't mean you'll be as good as me at them for a long time."
"Is that a challenge?" Leia perked a brow.
"Maybe." Ahsoka began to speed up again, a little faster. The challenge had the desired effect, Leia's movements matched hers better now. They weren't as sloppy as they speed up and she was concentrating more. "But you're thinking too much. Feel the kata's...don't think them."
"Yeah yeah, feel, don't think...use your instincts. I was told that by Obi-Wan, Yoda, and Dad."
"I never said use your instincts...just...don't think about what move you're going to do next, let yourself get lost in them." She speed up again, forcing the young Skywalker to speed up as well. She seemed to be doing alright for a youngling. She stopped speeding up when she could see Leia beginning to struggle a little, and kept it going to a little while longer before Leia backed up and was breathing heavily. She smirked at the girl before stopping herself.
"How…?"
"I've been doing them for eighteen years, every morning. Don't get cocky Leia, but you've done very well. I'm impressed."
The youngling stumbled back to her bunk and sat down, out of breath and out of energy. Her father had never made her go that fast before. Ever. Truth be told she had a newfound respect for Ahsoka. But she was too tired to voice it as she rested her head on the wall behind her. Ahsoka was smirking, she saw that Leia had so much potential to become a brilliant-
She stopped herself from thinking Jedi. No, Leia had the potential to become so much more than a Jedi. The girl had emotion, she had the motivation to become more grey. Neither light nor dark but both as well. It had crossed her mind, taking Leia as a new student when they left. That was, if Leia agreed to it. Although, she was almost certain the girl would. Not that it would be easy, of course it wouldn't and she would make sure that Leia knew that before she agreed to anything.
"So was anyone other than Anakin and Obi-Wan teaching you?" She casually asked and she sat down on her own bunk.
"Some of the surviving masters...and Master Yoda.."
"What did they teach you?" Ahsoka was curious, she wanted to know exactly what Anakin and Yoda were teaching, although she was sure she already knew the answer.
"They...teach us about how the darkside is bad, how it only corrupts. They said it makes you do terrible things, and that it's rare anyone comes back from following that path. Master Yoda is adamant that we should avoid the darkside at all costs."
Ahsoka sighed, she knew it. They were teaching the children just like before, but she hid her lack of surprise and signaled for Leia to continue. She was willing to bet good credits that the Jedi had not changed their ways of teaching, or their principles, at all.
"He keeps telling us to release our emotions to the force, ignore our need for revenge, learn that our heart should never rule our head. He says we shouldn't attach to someone, or if we did remind ourselves that duty must come first."
"They are wrong."
"But they're Masters...they know what they're talking about…" Leia looked at Ahsoka questioningly, confused as to why the Togruta would think they are wrong.
"No, they don't. I turned to the darkside remember? But I turned back. The Jedi want balance Leia, but they do not know how to achieve it."
"How so?"
Ahsoka was glad she had piqued the girls curiosity.
"Well, the force has many aspects, light, dark, grey and everything in between. If you can successfully balance your emotions, goals, desires...it can brought into balance in a person. In the wider galaxy, you have the Sith and the Jedi. Neither can survive without the other. Where there is one, there is always the other."
"And which are you?"
"I'm no Jedi, but I'm no Sith either."
He watched the as the ship came in to land. He smiled as he sensed the presence of his pregnant wife, even though he could feel her panic and fear he knew she was safe. She would live years into the future because he had done what was needed to ensure it. After his failure at the Temple, the Emperor gave him the chance to redeem himself on Mustafar if he only would destroy the Separatist Leaders.
He did not, however, understand why Ashoka wouldn't join him. She was a servant of that Dark Side wasn't she? Did she not turn? Perhaps there was more to it, maybe she was weak, underestimated him. Too late to find out now. Besides, he had more important things to focus on. Like the woman he loved piloting his ship to the landing pad. So at a light jog he went to meet her. They met each other with a hug.
"I saw your ship, what are you doing here?"
"I was worried about you...Obi-Wan told me things…"
"What things?" Darth Vader lowered his voice in slight anger.
"He said that you've...turned to the Dark Side...that you...attacked the Temple…" He knew it, he knew that Obi-Wan would try to do this, try to poison the mind of his beautiful wife against him.
"Obi-Wan is trying to turn you against me."
"He cares about us."
"Us?"
"He knows...he wants to help you...Anakin, all I want is your love…"
"Love won't save you Padme, only my new powers can do that."
She looked up at him, a small frown creeping onto her face, "at what cost? You're a good person don't do this!" She implored.
"I won't lose you the same way I lost my mother. I am becoming more powerful than any Jedi has ever dreamed of and I'm doing it for you. To protect you." Something was off, the were others here, he could sense them but something was also masking them. It was frustrating.
"Come away with me, help me raise our child, leave everything else behind while we still can…"
"Don't you see?" He argued, "We don't have to run away anymore...I have brought peace to the Republic, I am more powerful the the Chancellor, I can overthrow him and together you and I can rule the Galaxy, make things the way we want them to be!"
"I don't believe what I'm hearing. Obi-Wan was right, you've changed." Padme began to tear up at the finality of the realisation, as what it meant hit home.
"I don't know you anymore, Anakin you're breaking my heart. You're going down a path I can't follow…"
"Because of Obi-Wan." Vader wasn't asking, and they both knew it.
"Because of what you've done...what you plan to do…Stop, stop now. Come back, I love you!"
Vader watched as Obi-Wan, oh most hated Obi-Wan appeared at the top of the ship's ramp. Suddenly he was filled with anger, it was swirling inside. It was as if the lava surrounding them was only increasing in its dark and dreaded potency. It exploded inside him violently, all he could do was lash out.
"Liar!" He yelled as Obi-Wan began to walk down the ramp. Padme could barely get out a startle 'no' before he had thrust his hand out to use the force in a choke hold on her.
Yet nothing happened.
He tried again, nothing happening, Obi-Wan looked just as surprised.
Neither noticed the Togruta, hidden just out of sight at the top of the ramp, just to the right so no-one would noticed her presence. She had taken a gamble, and followed Obi-Wan as he snuc onto the Senators ship. As a resourceful togruta it was easy to hide herself aboard, shade her presence to something more obscure. She watched as her former Master tried to kill her friend, one of her best friends. With a little concentration she was able to protect the brunette from the force.
But still the new Sith continued on his rant regardless.
"You brought him here to kill me!"
"No! Anakin I didn't you have to believe me!" She pleaded. Vader ignored her, and turned on Obi-Wan.
"You turned her against me!"
"You have done that yourself!" The old mentor shot back.
"You will not take her from me!"
Ahsoka could feel the raw anger that had gripped Vader. It was dark, wild, untamed, raw. It was his weakness, yet it did not worry her. She used the force to pull at Padme a little, get her into the ship where it was safe. She new there was going to be a fight, it was inevitable and it was best to get the pregnant woman away from the danger. She smiled as Padme, with tears beginning to spill down her face, began to take note of the slight tug and glanced at the ship. It was only a few moments before Padme was making her way toward the ship.
"Your and and your lust for power have already done that!" Obi-Wan countered, "You have allowed this Dark Lord to twist your mind until now...until now you have become the very thing you swore to destroy."
Vader chose the let his traitorous wife run to her ship, he could deal with her later. For now, he focused on Obi-Wan and solely on Obi-Wan. "Don't lecture me Obi-Wan. I see through the lies of the Jedi, I do not fear the Dark Side as you do. I have brought peace, freedom, justice and security to My new Empire."
"Your new Empire?"
"Don't make me kill you." Vader threatened.
"Anakin…" Obi-Wan sounded almost exasperated, "my allegiance is to the Republic, to Democracy!"
"If you're not with me, then you're my enemy."
"Only a Sith deals in absolutes. I will do what I must."
Ahsoka watched as Obi-Wan reluctantly pulled out his lightsaber, igniting it. She pulled out her own. Padme hadn't even noticed her as she rushed back into the ship, and Ahsoka was glad she was safe. The togruta watched the confrontation intensify, using the force to hide herself she made her way forward, ready to make herself known.
"You will try."
As Vader backflipped, and brought his lightsaber to meet Obi-Wan's, Ahsoka darted forward at a speed only the force could grant and ignited her own two lightsabers and forcing herself between the two. In that moment she held the two forces at bay, a look of surprise on both their faces.
"Stop this madness Master." She looked into his hate-filled eyes, her own calmer than many would expect.
"Stand aside Ahsoka."
"No." With a quick push, Vader and Obi-Wan were pushed back a few paces, an annoyed togruta force-user standing between them like a mother keeping her fighting children apart. "I am here to stop this. The final battle on Mustafar. Anakin you saw me at the Temple. You know I can save her."
"But I saw-"
"I know what you saw. But what does Master Yoda always say? The future is always in motion."
She could feel him waver again, stronger this time. But a darkness came to reclaim him once more.
"Only my new powers can save her Ahsoka! Stand aside!"
"I said no Anakin! Don't make me kill you Master, it won't bring me any joy!"
"You can't kill me!" Vade growled, "I am more powerful than the Jedi! I am more powerful that Obi-Wan! And I am more powerful that YOU!"
Obi-wan advanced to Ahsoka's side, clearly showing he for now would ally with her than his former apprentice, and that hurt Vader. He would choose a girl who didn't even finish her training over his own student. Not only had he lost his wife, his mother, but he had also lost his padawan. It would not stand!
"No Master, you aren't. Not anymore."
Without hesitation she shoved her hand toward him, lightning shooting from her fingertips toward the Sith that was formerly Anakin Skywalker. It was easily blocked by his blade, but it was distraction enough for her to rush forward and attempt to strike at him. It was easily blocked, but she wasn't going to try and kill him, at least not yet. She could sense the good in him, if only she could encourage it to take hold once more then maybe she wouldn't have to do something she would regret.
Obi-Wan quickly joined in, but Vader was quickly blocking their blows. He was holding his own, and she could tell that Obi-Wan was trying but she wasn't. She didn't want to. Glancing at the ship, she saw Padme watching from the cockpit. She had to get the fight away from here, she didn't want her friend to see what could happen to any of them. Ahsoka sent a look at Obi-Wan before slowly making her way toward the complex, daring Vader to come after her with Obi-Wan making the same movements.
Blow after blow was exchanged, Vader's anger growing with each block and failed strike. His blows became increasingly hard and rough, simply trying to break down the defence the togruta was putting up while fending off the attacks from Obi-Wan. Time lost all meaning as it became a dance between the three of them. Ahsoka could sense a third presence making its way toward them though, it was slow and painful but it was coming.
Eventually they had fought through the complex, at some point deactivating the shields of the complex causing the heat to begin its destruction. They were on the lava lake now, Vader was on a small shielded droid, as was Ahsoka while Obi-Wan was on a platform. Vader jumped up and over Obi-Wan landing on the platform as they began to duel one-on-one. Ahsoka couldn't maneuver close enough without ending up fried, so she watched in horror as the battled.
It was over when Obi-Wan managed to jump onto the rocks.
"It's over Anakin, I have the high ground."
"You underestimate my power!" Vader challenged.
"Don't try it." The Jedi warned.
Visions swam in a millisecond before her eyes. Anakin laying there, down three limbs and set ablaze because of his own pride. She watched as he launched himself up to try and get on the other side of his former teacher. She did all that she could do, and lifted her hand up to give him enough air to land safely on the other side. She sighed a breath of relief when she saw he was fine, but glaring menacingly down in front of Obi-Wan. Then it hit her.
It happened fast, one moment she was on an unstable droid and the next she was behind Obi-Wan, faking a broken ankle from her landing. Not one of her best ideas she admitted, but if it worked then she wouldn't mind too much. She faked a cry of pain, and let herself fall onto the sooty dirt. A flash of something, she sensed, went through Vader and she could feel it. He was concerned. Obi-Wan to by the look of it. She put her saber's down to hold her ankle convincingly. Vader deactivated his own blade and rushed over, his eyes free from his dark emotions. For now.
"Ahsoka! No...no are you OK?"
Time to make this convincing, she thought to herself, and glared at him spitefully.
"Like you would care." She spat, "you tried to kill me after all."
There was a shift in him. Painc. Worry. Concern. Guilt. They all began to overflow in him, bring him back. He was coming back. She could see it, he didn't want this, he cared but something was trying to take over. Vader, no, Anakin was fighting back. He wanted to help Ahsoka. She remembered how he had been on Mortis, but she got the feeling he never saw this in whatever the Son showed him.
"I-. Obi-Wan help me get her to the ship."
Ahsoka quickly glanced at Obi-Wan, he was surprised by the sudden shift in Anakin. It was extraordinary that something like a broken ankle could have such a profound effect. He deactivated his weapon and walked over, looking at his former Padawan. Despite the seriousness of the situation, he risked a joke. "You know Anakin, the Senator is going to kill you for this."
"He's not wrong." Ahsoka shrugged. Anakin glared half seriously at both of them.
"Come on Snips, let's get you to the ship." He picked her up carefully. She almost told him her ankle was fine. Almost.
At the ship, Obi-Wan had already gone to inform Padme everything was alright, but Ahsoka sensed it again. That presence. Looking at Anakin she smiled before blurting out, "my ankle's fine by the way."
"What?" He narrowed his eyes. "You mean I carried you and I didn't have to?"
She laughed as he put her on her feet. He grumbled at having been fooled so easily, by his padawan no less. It was embarrassing. And he was, in his own little way, proud of it. She had fooled him fair and square. She was enjoying his discomfort, a lot. Then she tensed. A figure was standing behind Anakin, at the complex entrance but was only a silhouette. She unclipped her lightsabers.
"Anakin go to Padme. Now."
"Ahsoka, what-?"
"Go!" She cut off with a growl, "I'll be fine. Go."
He glanced around to see the figure as well. But he was not going to let his padawan fight alone. Whoever this was, they were dark and dangerous and Ahsoka would need all the help she could get. Anakin drew and ignited his lightsaber as Ahsoka ignited her own. The figure walked forward calmly. He was wearing a brown cloak, and his eyes were pools of lava beneath it. He pulled back his hood.
"Master Windu?!" Anakin cried incredulously. Ahsoka didn't seem all that surprised.
"You will pay for your crimes Skywalker. And you Padawan Tano."
He pulled his lightsaber, Anakin was still in shock. "But you...I killed you…"
"So it was Master Windu who had followed you?"
Ahsoka nodded to the young girl, who had insisted on hearing more of the story. Leia was curious about what happened on Mustafar, clearly. Although it was curious as to why she had never been told before now, or at least in any detail.
"He wanted to, in his view, bring both me and your father to justice. As a result, he fell to the Dark Side."
Ahsoka sighed. She remembered how not long after, Anakin never wanted her to be near his children or his family after she had left. He was threatened, and she accepted that. She knew he didn't approve of some of the things that had come to light on Mustafar, and she was hurt slightly by the fact he had rejected her because of them but in some ways she did understand.
"I don't get why it's hard for my dad to talk about you, you know."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, he's fine with it until a conversation ends up on when you left the Jedi...then he kinda just, shuts it all out. I heard Mom get angry at him once because he refused to tell us what happened when we asked. She forgave him but she still wasn't happy." Leia shrugged.
"Let's just say you father wasn't happy with some of my choices. Maybe one day, you'll know what they were."
Something shifted in the force. It was close, and familiar. Something was going to happen, she could feel it. The time was closing in. She couldn't tell exactly what it was, but she was sure her it was something to do with her apprentices. She hoped they were coming to get them out of here, she would love nothing more than to say goodbye to the place which had caused her so much pain.
After a long pause Leia spoke up again with a smile, "faking the broken ankle was genius though."
Days continued to pass. Ahsoka would tell stories from the Clone War while Leia listened, or give her lessons on what the Jedi were wrong about, or tips for being a better fighter. It was nice, just talking. The Inquisitors weren't interrupting them and there wasn't much to entertain them anyway. The force was restless though, enough so that even Leia could sense it. If she could, then Vainis could easily. That worried her, but it also gave her some hope. It meant that the force was waiting for something big to happen.
It wasn't until a week after Ahsoka had recounted the large portion of what happened on Mustafar that it finally happened. Alarms began to blare, and outside the faint sounds of frantic soldiers could be heard. Leia was woken from her light sleep, and Ahsoka out of her meditation. The exchanged a glance, and a smile, before standing up with hope that whomever was attacking would make it to the detention area and hopefully free them.
Again, I'm so, so, so, so sorry for not updating guys, on any of my stories. I promise that as soon as I can I'll write more but my exams are very important, as is getting into University and doing all that. So I can't guarantee anything. I apologize for that.