58

Summary:

Ahsoka loses Merit in the storm. Anakin does something unexpected. Anakin meets his end. The Beyond is no more.

58.

Wind in the Beyond grew violent. The battle between Sidious and Master Sheev torn up the silent fog of the Darkness.

"We have to help him!" shouted Ahsoka.

Merit tried to stop her and said, "No, you might get in his way."

She paused to look at him and said, "I have to try."

Ahsoka pulled away from Merit's hand and started to head towards the maelstrom. Merit shielded his golden eyes from the raging storm and tried to reach her hand.

"No, Tano! The tempest -"

Ahsoka raised her arms to shield her eyes as she stepped closer to the fight between good and evil. Cracks of light began to appear on the ground. They were coming from the power they expelled from their fight.

Ahsoka didn't know what kind of help she could give, but that wasn't going to stop her from trying. Reality as she knew it depended on her succeeding.

She then saw a figure appear out from the whirling fog. It was Anakin.

He approached the dueling Sith and Jedi and drew his red lightsaber and cut Master Sheev in two.

"NO!" shouted Ahsoka, but her voice was drowned out by the raging storm. She saw his body crumble to the ground.

The storm immediately stopped. Only darkness remained and a strange chill in the air.

Sidious laughed with malicious triumph. He went to commend Anakin and placed his hands on his shoulder.

"You did well, my apprentice."

However, Anakin ignited his lightsaber through Sidious' chest. The red laser shot out from his cloaked back.

Sidious was shocked by Anakin's betrayal. Anakin deactivated his lightsaber, and Sidious unceremoniously fell to the ground next to his double.

Ahsoka was speechless. She thought that defeating Sidious would put a stop to everything, but it didn't. She saw that the storm had stopped around them, but it didn't stop completely.

The Darkness and the Light still raged. They were simply in the eye of the storm.

"Anakin, please. Help me stop the storm. If the timelines merge, it will either destroy all the times or collide into one."

"Did you know my mother is alive in one of those timelines? I met her. She and Master Qui-Gon. He called me his son. He said I was an agent of change. The Chosen One to bring balance to the Force. I see know that balance means both sides must lose. If I restore balance, then I should be the one to bring it. I should be the one to rule because no one is as strong as I am."

Ahsoka shook her head. She realized that what was happening to Anakin was the same thing that happened in her timeline. He had fallen.

"Then you aren't a Jedi anymore."

"The Jedi are corrupt. I thought they wanted to help me, but all they wanted was my power."

"Anakin, what you plan to do by ruling is taking everyone else's power away from them. You would be no better than Sidious. I know you believed in what the Jedi stood for. You can make that belief a reality. You can make it so that those who come after you will never have to suffer like you ever again."

Anakin's face hardened, and he said, "No. They must all pay. The corrupt and the greedy will all bow before me."

Ahsoka knew then that Anakin was truly lost to the power he sought. He had become Darth Vader. He had become a man who didn't care about anyone but himself. She knew what she had to do, and even though he was not her Anakin, she still loved him as her brother.

XXX

Meanwhile, somewhere in the Beyond was Ezra, Rey, and Jinn. They lay on the ground. Ezra groaned and got up. He felt weak and shaken. He shook his head to try and clear it. He could see nothing. It was dark. The air felt damp, and there was a breeze.

"What's happening? Where am I? Why can I see? Am I blind?"

Ezra heard the panic in Rey's voice. He got up and reached for her.

"Hey, take it easy. You're not blind. It's just really dark."

Rey followed Ezra's voice and took his hand, but she tripped over something on the ground.

"What was that?"

She bent down and touched the ground and found a body. She was startled at first until she felt a sword and knew it was Jinn.

"It's Master Jinn."

Ezra reached for his lightsaber and ignited the laser blade. It casted an eerie green light in the darkness. He saw there was fog everywhere, but he could hardly see anything in front of him. It was too dark.

He bent down and checked Jinn for injuries. He was fine. He tried shaking him.

"Jinn. It's time to get up, old man."

The amber Jedi groaned and turned onto his front and slowly sat up. He looked around and muttered, "Blast."

Rey asked, "Are you alright?"

Jinn replied, "Yes, I'm fine considering the circumstances."

Ezra helped Jinn to his feet. The rebel Jedi said, "Do you have any idea where we are?"

Jinn nodded his head and said, "I've taken you here when we created our bond. This is the Beyond. Though, I've never been here in person before."

Rey said, "Are you sure you're fine? You feel different. Weaker."

He said, "That's because I'm no longer channeling the Force. What you feel is only my Force power alone. Bridger, did you see my sister's sword?"

"Oh, hold on. It should-here!"

Ezra held up the short black sword. Jinn took it and handed it to Rey.

"Here, little one. You hold onto it."

Rey took the sword and fastened it onto her belt.

Jinn then looked off into the distance.

"Something isn't right."

Ezra said, "Yeah, we're stuck here, and we don't know where everyone else is."

Jinn raised his hand and said, "No, there's a breeze, and it's cold."

Rey said, "It feels like a storm."

The amber Jedi said, "There are no storms in the Beyond. It's a spiritual world. I don't think we have much time."

Jinn raised his hands and took a deep breath. He then started channeling the Darkness and the Light. Ezra had felt Jinn channel before, but it was different seeing it in the Beyond.

Darkness and Light were physical in the Beyond. Jinn gradually spun them in his hands and then crashed them together. An intense golden light began to glow as the two Forces merged like molten lava. They fought against each other until Jinn fused them into a swirling ring of fire.

Ezra recognized it as Jinn's power. It gave off familiar waves of warmth and light. It banished the darkness around them until, unexpectedly, Jinn seized the ring of fiery light and absorbed it into his body. Jinn's body started to glow. His amber eyes glowed in the dim.

He then reached out and grabbed all the invisible threads that represented his bonds in his hand. They glistened like a thread from a spider's web.

Ezra gasped when he felt him tug on the bond.

The young rebel asked, "What are you doing?"

Jinn said, "Tano is in trouble. She's in the storm. I'm going to give her our strength."

Rey asked, "How?"

"With the bonds, I can give her our strength. It won't last long, but she will be able to overtake any Sith."

With silent resolve, Jinn took one last look at his two companions and said, "I'll probably pass out after this."

Ezra put his hand on Jinn's shoulder and said, "Don't worry. I got your back, old man."

XXX

Ahsoka felt strange. Her body felt light and then started to glow. It was different from the glow Sir Merit had taught her. It wasn't coming from her. She realized it was coming from her bond with Jinn and her friends.

She gasped and felt a surge of power flow into her. Suddenly, she wasn't a teenager anymore. She became an adult. Her horns were now fully grown. Her clothes had changed to white robes.

Bewildered, she looked at her hands. She had been restored.

She slowly closed her hands into fists and shut her eyes and said, "Thank you, everyone."

Vader glared and said, "I don't know what you did, but it doesn't change anything. You can't stop me."

Ahsoka met Vader's gaze and said, "You're wrong. I can. This time, I'm not fighting alone."

Vader roared and rushed to strike her down, but Ahsoka raised her two white lightsabers to easily block him. In her adult body, she was faster and stronger than she ever was as a teen. She also had years of experience to draw from and the combined strength of her Force sensitive friends.

Vader tried to choke her with the Force, but she easily dispelled his power with a wave of her hand. With a flick of her wrist, she severed his prosthetic arm with her lightsaber and disarmed him.

Vader cried out in pain at the severed prosthetic limb. He used the Force to draw his lightsaber into his left hand and ignited it. He then attacked her, but Ahsoka deactivated both of her lightsabers and clipped them onto her belt before grabbing his arm and tossing him to the ground. His lightsaber disappeared into the darkness.

The Sith growled with rage. The storm began to grow stronger around them. He shoved her back with the Force. Ahsoka braced herself with her arms to shield her eyes against the raging wind. Yet, the wind was too strong. She was tossed into the air and into the black fog.

Vader saw that she had dropped his lightsaber. He picked it up and went to kill her.

He slashed her, but she managed to dodge him and ignite her single white lightsaber again. Ahsoka had never felt so strong with the Force before in her life. It felt like a fire was burning up inside her. It was feeding her strength, but it felt raw and untamed. She wasn't sure how to use her new power or how long it would last, but it was exhilarating.

She used the Force to push Vader away. She felt amazing. She felt like she could do anything.

Meanwhile, Vader used the Force to soften his landing. He glared at Ahsoka. She was shining in the darkness like a beacon of light. She was beautiful and strong, and he was jealous of her newfound strength. He hated it.

"You're naive. Do you really think stopping me will change anything? Don't you see what we can accomplish?"

"There is no 'we.' You want to rule for yourself. I have seen the worst that you can become. I won't let that happen again."

"You don't know me."

Vader waited until Ahsoka closed the distance between them. He then surprised her with a bolt of lightning. She cried out in pain and dropped to the ground.

He laughed and got up to circle around her.

"I'll admit that you're strong, but you lack vision. You think good will trumpet over evil, but evil exists because we let it. We let people unfit to rule lead. We let injustice exist because we pretend it doesn't exist. There is nothing you can do to change that. I've embraced the darkness because it's the only answer. You can't change evil, Ahsoka. You can only master it, and the only thing evil obeys is power."

Suddenly, the lightsaber in Vader's hand was drawn away into the darkness. A figure stepped out and caught it.

''I once thought as you do, Skywalker."

Stepping out of the shadows, stood Darth Maul. He gazed upon him and saw that he was a Jedi no longer. The Darkness was strong within him. He was far stronger than his former master who he saw laid dead on the ground.

He met Skywalker's gaze and said, "I saw where my vengeance would lead me, and I was broken. I had nothing. I saw that following the Darkness alone had left my training incomplete. If I wish to become a true master than I must learn both the Darkness and the Light. I must have it all."

Vader frowned and said, "You're wrong. The Light offers nothing."

"Then you will always be incomplete."

Maul gestured for Vader to attack him. He didn't even bother drawing his weapon. Vader roared. He disliked Maul's taunting. He raised his hand to choke him, but to his surprise, Maul easily dispelled his hold on the Force.

"It was the day we met that our fates were changed forever. I was to be Sidious's apprentice, but you took my place."

Vader began to circle Maul and said, "You're wrong. It was the Jedi that robbed you of your place. It was the Jedi that took me from my mother. You should hate them, not me."

Maul smiled and said, "Oh, I do. My desire for revenge was all consuming, but it made me blind. I should be grateful to you for saving me from accepting such a merge prize, for I am stronger now than I was before."

Maul then raised his hand to pull Vader's legs from under him. Vader stumbled and fell. He quickly got up and summoned Sidious' lightsaber from his lifeless body. He ignited it and lunged at him, but Maul blocked with his duel lightsaber. Sparks few as the two collided. Maul narrowed his brow and quickly shoved Vader back with the Force.

Vader skidded back into the darkness. Unexpectedly, he found himself in front of Obi-Wan.

"Anakin?"

Vader turned his yellow hate filled eyes towards his former master and said, "You're too late, Obi-Wan. A new storm is coming, and you can't stop me. I will have everything I deserve."

Obi-Wan couldn't believe how far his former apprentice had fallen.

"You're supposed to be the Chosen One. You're supposed to bring balance to the Force, not join the Sith."

Vader laughed and said, "Who said that I haven't? I already killed Sidious and his counterpart. I'm no longer an apprentice. Now I am the master. It's about time you realize that."

Vader attacked Obi-Wan, and the Jedi Master barely had time to block his lightsaber with his own. Yet, Vader poured all of his strength into his blow. He forced Obi-Wan back. Obi-Wan had to retreat and break away. However, Vader was unrelenting. He continued to press Obi-Wan farther back. Though, it was to no advantage.

The dark terrain of the Beyond was a barren landscape. There were no hills or rocks or streams. There was no light and no sound. The only light in the void came from their own bodies.

Obi-Wan was overwhelmed. He knew Anakin was strong. He knew he couldn't defeat him with strength alone. He knew that playing to his emotions was his only advantage. Anakin was also arrogant. He tended to underestimate his opponents.

"Anakin. Stop."

Suddenly, Maul attacked him from behind. Vader barely had time to parry his attack. He then glared at the horned Sith and used the Force to push him back.

"Since when did you two start working together? I thought you hated each other."

Jinn stepped out of the fog. Ezra and Rey were supporting him. They had one of his arms over their shoulders. "Hate can't get what Master Maul wants, and it won't work for you."

Vader glared at the amber Jedi. "Jinn. I should have known you were behind this. You've been trying to stop me from the start. You're a lair. You're trying to take everything away from me!"

Jinn shook his head and said, "You've already done that yourself. The only reason why I didn't kill you back on board the Resolute was out of love for my father. I see now it was crueler to let you live and become what you are. And for what? So, you can have a substitute for your dead mother."

Vader roared and raced to kill Jinn. Ezra let go of Jinn and stepped between them with sword and saber.

Rey turned to Jinn. "Why did you provoke him?"

"I'm mad."

Rey frowned and said, "Yes, you are."

Vader clashed with Ezra's sword and saber, but the Sith was furious. He overpowered Ezra and lifted him into the air. The young rebel choked but raised his hand to dispell his grip. He dropped like a stone.

Rey quickly set Jinn onto the ground. He was too weak to fight since he was channeling their combined strength to Ahsoka. He knew that meant Rey and Ezra weren't at their best.

Rey rushed Vader. The two fought with a violent clash. Blue and red flashed as they exchanged attacks and parrys.

Vader said, "The Dark Side is strong in you. You should join me."

With gritted teeth, she said, "No thanks. I already have a master."

Vader smiled mischievously. "Jinn likes picking up strays. It makes him feel superior. You're nothing to him. Don't believe his lies. The Dark Side is power. The Light is weak. I know you think so, too."

Suddenly, a portal opened in the Beyond. A gust of wind blew through the darkness. Rey shielded her eyes against the blinding light from the portal. She saw three figures emerge from the door. She didn't recognize them, but Jinn knew his wife anywhere. Ventress stepped out with Padme and Thea.

Vader turned and saw that he was surrounded. He saw that the three women had joined Obi-Wan, Maul, Jinn, Ezra, and Rey. Ahsoka approached him.

"Stop this. It doesn't have to be this way."

Padme said, "She's right, Anakin. Please, come back. Please don't turn away from me again."

Vader said, "You're the fool here, Padme. What you believe in is nothing more than a lie. The Senate doesn't care about the people. I was a slave. I only mattered to them when I had power. I'm more powerful than they will ever be, so why should I listen to them?"

Padme shook her head. "I can't believe what you're saying."

Vader got dangerously close to her and said, "You're the one who'll be dead. I don't need a Padme who doesn't see reality."

Then, without warning, a shot was fired. Vader looked down between them. He saw that Padme had shot him at point blank range in the chest. He stumbled back in shock before collapsing onto the ground dead.

Padme's heart was racing. She still had the blaster in her hand. She was shaking.

Ventress reached out to lower her hand. She then turned and wept in her arms. Ventress stiffened at first but then settled to comfort her.

Maul said, "Well, that was unexpected."

XXX

Meanwhile, Jinn could no longer channel the bonds he shared with his friends into Ahsoka. Without warning, he fainted, and all the invisible threads he had gathered snapped back into place. Ezra gasped as he suddenly felt tension leave his body.

Ventress ran to Jinn to check on him. She was relieved to find that he was only unconscious.

Ezra tried to reassure her and said, "It's okay. He said he'd probably pass out from channeling everyone's power into Ashoka."

Ventress said, "That's not very comforting, Ezra."

Then, there was a second thud as Ashoka fell. She suddenly felt weak as all the power Jinn had given her was gone. She shook her head with a groan. It felt like she had been run over by a speeder. She slowly got up. She noticed that she still looked like an adult.

The tremors got worse. They began to shake violently.

Thea wasted no time. She used her powers to burn a seal onto the ground and drew both of her swords, the black sword and the silver sword of her mentor, and drove them both into the ground.

"Quickly, I need someone to help me open the gate."

Ahsoka sternly said, "No, I'm not leaving without Rex."

Obi-Wan said, "We can't wait. This place is falling apart. Thea, I'll help you open the gate."

Thea said, " Good. Stand there."

Obi-Wan did as she instructed. He stood as one of the points to the triangle. Thea stood at the center and used her powers to open the gate.

Ahsoka shouted, "No! I won't leave Rex."

However, it was too late. The gate opened in the ground, and a burst of light consumed them.

XXX

TBC

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