Chapter 170: The Wrong Jedi
Never give up hope, no matter how dark things seem.
Recap: Ahsoka Tano captured! While on the run to prove her innocence, Padawan Tano teamed up with the deadly Asajj Ventress to find the rogue Jedi who framed Ahsoka for murder. The Jedi Council sent Anakin Skywalker, Storm, Twilight Sparkle, and Master Plo Koon to track Ahsoka down and bring her back to the Temple. Now captured and imprisoned, Ahsoka faces punishment for crimes she did not commit.
After Ahsoka was returned to the Jedi Temple, the Jedi Council discussed what they should do about the girl. Admiral Tarkin soon contacted them as the man was informing the Jedi about Ahsoka's crimes and how she should be handed over to the Senate so they could persecute her for her crimes. Nearly every Jedi Master was gathered in the room to discuss.
"The Senate requests that Ahsoka Tano be indicted for acts of treason against the Republic," stated the Admiral.
"A fair trial Padawan Tano will have in accordance with Jedi tradition," responded Master Yoda.
"Ah, yes, Jedi tradition," scoffed Admiral Tarkin at the Jedi Master's proposal. "I'm afraid, Master Yoda, that the Senate believes that an internal Jedi trial would seem biased. Therefore, the Senate asks that the Council expel Ahsoka Tano from the Jedi Order so that she may be put to a Republic Military tribunal, where she will receive more impartial judgment."
"And who would represent Ahsoka in this tribunal, Admiral?" asked Obi-wan after hearing that he wanted Ahsoka to be thrown in prison.
"That would be up to the Council, General, but I would recommend someone outside the Order," snickered Tarkin.
"Of course," retorted the Jedi Master.
"The Council will act as they deem necessary. Thank you, Admiral," said Master Windu as the hologram disappeared.
"Surely we cannot do what Tarkin suggests. We need to stand together with Ahsoka," said Obi-wan to the rest of the Jedi Council.
"And yet there's evidence that she is indeed the mastermind behind the attack on the Temple. She was found in possession of nanodroid explosives," said Celestia to her friend as she pointed out the proof that was reported from the team they sent to capture her. Most of the other Jedi Masters seemed to agree with the woman and her statement.
"This alone is enough to convict her. And let's not mention the other crimes she's committed during her escape," said Luna, backing her older sister's claim. Once again, almost all the Jedi Masters agreed with her point. Both sisters were proving cases that were too hard to ignore. "I understand your sentiment, Obi-Wan, but if the Council does as you suggest, it could be seen as an act of opposition to the Senate."
Luna proved right again, as they needed to be fair and unbiased. They were supposed to be peacekeepers and not choose sides, lest they go back on their ideals.
"I'm afraid we have little choice," sighed Master Windu as it became clear what was to be done.
"Hmm. To the Chamber of Judgment, summon Skywalker and his Padawan, and in our decision, may the Force guide us," said Yoda to the rest of the Council as they had a trial to do. Obi-wan grimaced as Celestia and Luna could sense his discomfort, knowing his student's apprentice would have to face the wrath of the Council.
Anakin and Ahsoka were shown while waiting for the Jedi Council to call them. The former was pacing before his apprentice as he had much on his mind.
"You're not helping," said Ahsoka as seeing her teacher pacing back and forth like a madman made her even more anxious than she was feeling.
"I'm sorry, Snips. I just... I just don't know what to do," sighed Anakin as he stopped pacing and sat beside his student.
"It's okay. I don't either," responded the Padawan to her Master.
The sound of the doors opening was heard as Storm and Twilight came. The Padawan saw the Jedi Knight as they glared at each other.
"I had a job to do, Ahsoka. And you weren't making it easy on me," said Storm, standing before his friend with his arms crossed.
"Yeah, I understand," said the girl.
Soon a sound was heard. That indicated that the Jedi Council was ready for them. Anakin and Ahsoka got up and began to walk toward the center of the room along with Storm and Twilight. A few Jedi Sentiels also got on board as the floor began to go up. A hole opened in the top, and it led to the Chamber of Judgement, where Master Yoda, Windu, Mundi, Plo, Celestia, Luna, and... Obi-wan all stood on pedestals as they looked down upon the accused Padawan. Anakin, Storm, Twilight, and Jedi Sentiels were on the ground floor as Ahsoka was lifted up to be presented to the Council, who would decide her fate.
Ahsoka saw Obi-wan as she could see the Jedi Master was distraught about deciding whether she was innocent. Celestia and Luna looked at their apprentices; they could see both were also concerned about their friend, despite having different facial expressions. Twilight was more anxious and worried while Storm stood there with his arms crossed and a straight face. Both Jedi Masters knew this would be a tough case for all of them as this would test their friendship. Soon it began as Yoda spoke.
"Padawan Tano, serious charges have been levied against you. How plead you?" asked Yoda as he served as the trial judge.
"Not guilty, Master. I would never take the lives of innocents. The values of the Jedi are sacred to me." pleaded Ahsoka to the Council before her.
"Yet, there is evidence to the contrary," stated Master Mundi as he nodded at Celestia to begin her case.
"The evidence in question puts you attacking clones and escaping the facility. That alone is a serious criminal offense and adds more time to your sentence. Not to mention more security measures." stated Celestia as she flipped over another piece of paper from the stack she had ready to convict Ahsoka. "Following that, you ran from authorities and refused to cooperate. Another criminal offense. And then there's the instance with the person who committed the bombing of the Jedi Temple."
"You were alone with Letta Turmond when she died. Can you explain this?" said Windu as he spoke.
"Someone used the Force against her. Twilight can vouch for me," said the Padawan.
"Do not bring my student into this!" shouted Celestia as she pointed at Ahsoka.
"M-Master," muttered the princess at seeing her teacher scolding her friend.
"Twilight has no association with this! She's been cleared and freed of all convictions against her! So I advise you to keep her name out of your mouth and not try to pin this on her!" yelled Celestia as she barked at Ahsoka for trying to drag her pupil into her own matter.
The Padawan looked at her friend for support as Twilight lowered her head. The princess wanted to help her friend, but she physically couldn't. Mainly because of the letter that was sent, the letter that was sent to not only free Twilight but pardon her of all crimes and have her not be associated at all. Celestia had informed the Council of the letter, as they had no choice but to obey it. Even Yoda and Windu were powerless to go against the letter.
"Moving on," said Luna as they got this trial back on track.
"Which brings us to Ventress. Can you explain your association with her?" asked Windu.
"We had a mutual understanding. I thought she was helping me," said Ahsoka.
"So you thought working with another criminal was an excellent idea? And not just any criminal, a Sith who has committed heinous acts of violence on the Republic?" stated Luna as she made Ahsoka more and more guilty. "Association with a criminal is another serious offense. Making a deal, another one. Then there's the tampering of public property!" The woman reminded Ahsoka of how she messed with the wires of the public hologram booth to make the call with Bariss and avoid being tracked.
"Did she help you acquire the nanodroid weaponry found when you were apprehended, the same devices used in the bombing of the Temple?" asked Windu.
"No, I was set up and deceived, as you are being deceived now," said Ahsoka, trying to convince the Jedi that she was innocent.
"The question is, Padawan Tano, who is deceiving us?" stated Celestia.
"Ventress, you, or someone else?" asked Windu.
"I am not deceiving you. I would assume Ventress is, but I can't be sure," said the girl.
"Then you have no proof? No defense?" scolded Luna as the Padawan put her head down, proving the Jedi Master right.
"My sense is clouded," confessed Ahsoka.
"Clouded by the dark side, these things are Padawan Tano. Dangerously clouded, but not just surrounding you, surrounding many things in these times," said Yoda as he spoke to the girl. He then looked at the rest of the Jedi Masters as he took in Luna and Celestia's prosecutions.
"You've already made your decision, haven't you?!" yelled Anakin as he noticed the look Yoda gave the others and how he worded his statement. "This meeting is just a formality!"
Anakin was angry as the Jedi Sentinels turned on their double-bladed staff to hold him back.
"Settle down, Skywalker!" yelled Celestia at the Jedi Knight for acting out of impulse. She looked at Obi-wan as the Jedi Master was embarrassed in front of his cohorts because of how Anakin acted.
The Jedi Knight didn't realize he was making Kenobi look bad as his anger clouded his mind. His feelings and emotions were coming out as the guards tried to hold him back.
"General Storm!" shouted Luna.
The woman yelled at her student to get his friend under control. The boy sighed as he approached Anakin from behind.
"Sorry, bud," apologized the teen.
He then kicked Anakin in the back of his leg as the Jedi Knight felt it. He dropped to a knee as Storm delivered a spinning elbow strike that knocked his buddy to the floor. Twilight gasped at seeing her partner do what he did as Storm had to carry out the orders from his Master. The boy was the enforcer of the trial as he managed to stop Anakin from making things worst for Ahsoka and disgracing Obi-wan in front of the other Jedi Masters for his lack of training about his own student. Storm looked at his friend down on the floor as the two exchanged gazes, one of confusion, hurt, and anger. The Council brought their attention back as Yoda spoke.
"Reached a decision, we have, though not in total agreement, are we," said the Grand Jedi Master.
"It is the Council's opinion that Padawan Ahsoka Tano has committed sedition against the Republic, and thus, she will be expelled from the Jedi Order," said Windu.
The words echoed in Ahsoka's ears as she processed what was said. Twilight gasped and brought her hand over her mouth as she couldn't believe it either.
"You can't do this!" shouted Anakin.
"Your Padawan status will be stripped from you, and you shall forfeit all rank and privileges within the Grand Army of the Republic. You will be turned over to the Republic courts to await your trial and whatever punishment they will set for you," said Celestia as the platform Ahsoka was on began to descend.
"Henceforth, you are barred from the Jedi Order!" stated Luna as she finished her sister's statement.
And just like that, everything hit Ahsoka. All emotions she felt.
Luna looked at Storm and gave a nod to her student. The boy sighed, knowing what he had to do. He began to approach Ahsoka as he stood behind the girl. He placed his hand on her shoulder, and he rubbed it. The teen then leaned to whisper in her ear.
"I'm sorry, Ahsoka," said the Jedi Knight.
The boy then reached to the back of her head and got ahold of her Padawan strand. With a tug, he ripped it off of Ahsoka. It felt like she'd been stabbed in the back by her friend when Storm did that. With that, he began to lead Ahsoka away as the Jedi Knight looked at the strand he was holding. Storm felt a sense of guilt, having to do what he did to his friend. Twilight and Anakin soon followed the pair out as Celestia and Luna eyed their apprentices keenly.
Storm was shown sitting on a window ledge. The boy was holding his hand up as he looked at the Padawan strand that belonged to Ahsoka. After the trial, Ahsoka was transported back to the facility to await her trial for the Senate. The Jedi Knight kept looking at the strand when someone approached him. That person was his partner as the princess wasn't happy.
"How could you?" said Twilight.
"I did my job, Sparky," retorted the boy as he hopped off the window and began to walk as he pocketed the strand.
"Ahsoka is our friend. She needs us!" said the princess, walking alongside the boy.
"What can we do? Realistically, Sparky? What can we do?" responded Storm to the girl. "Besides, our orders were clear, capture her and bring her back."
"And now she's being prosecuted."
"I don't see you coming up with a plan!" yelled Storm as he got in Twilight's face. "You think I don't know what you did? You think I'm stupid?! I know you let Ahsoka go!"
Twilight gasped.
"If you weren't pardoned, you'd be on trial with her right now!" growled Storm. "I guess being property comes with privileges, doesn't it?" The boy called Twilight what she really was, and that was a piece of property to both the Jedi and her home planet.
"I thought you'd be on her side. But you hunted her down like she was a Sith."
"I couldn't disobey my mother, Twilight! I'm not like you!"
"What's that supposed to mean?" said the girl as she stood before her partner.
"I can't just wave my hand and make everything disappear. I'm not like you, where I have servants waiting on my every beck and call, and I get away with anything I want!" yelled Storm.
The boy began to walk away as Twilight was shown clenching her fists.
"My dad always said: If people aren't there for you in your bad times, don't let them be there for you in your good times."
Storm stopped upon hearing Twilight say that. The boy merely turned to look at the girl, who kept her defiant look. She then left as Storm kept his serious expression. Meanwhile, Ahsoka was in her prison cell as the girl was lulling over what had happened to her in just a matter of time. Escaping from prison the first time, being tracked down by some of her closest friends, then being betrayed by Ventress, getting captured, and worst of all, being stripped of her Jedi status and expelled from the Order.
It seemed like everything around the girl was hitting her in the face. Her entire world was beginning to crumble. The doors to her cell opened, and in came Anakin, who his wife followed.
"Padmé has agreed to represent you before the Senate," said the Jedi Knight to his student.
"I will do everything I can to prove your innocence, Ahsoka," stated Padmé.
"I am almost certain that the person behind this is Ventress, and you know I wasn't working with her. She was at the warehouse... in the room. We fought, but she got away. Didn't any of the clones see anything?" asked Ahsoka to her mentor.
"No, none of the clones reported seeing Ventress at the scene," sighed Anakin. "I thought you said Ventress left before you went into the warehouse."
"That's what I thought, too, but then she attacked me when I got inside. I'd know her red lightsabers anywhere," stated Ahsoka.
"Well, if that's our only lead, then I know what I have to do."
"Wait, where are you going? You can't leave now," said Padmé to her husband as she figured Anakin needed to be here for Ahsoka's upcoming trial.
"Yes, I can. I have to find Ventress and get to the bottom of this," stated Anakin as he left.
"Until we hear from Anakin, let's work on your defense," said Padmé as she sat beside the girl.
"Forgive me if I'm not optimistic. I thought I was part of that Order, but everyone, except Anakin has abandoned me. I'm not holding out much hope the Senate will treat me any better," confessed the girl.
"Maybe I can help," said Twilight.
The pair looked up to see the princess as she had decided to come to visit her friend.
"I want to help you, Ahsoka," confessed the Jedi Knight. "I couldn't do anything when you were on the run, but I can now."
"Thanks, Twilight," the girl smiling at her friend.
Storm was in the Council room as he was looking out of the window. The boy was once again looking at the strand he held. The Jedi Knight knew what he held as it meant so much symbolism.
Again, with the sulking? Get over it! You did your job! You were the enforcer! So what if your friend is gone? She's a criminal!
"I just find it hard to believe," said the Jedi Knight to the voice in his head.
That princess is poisoning your mind! Do not listen to her! You need to obey the command of your Master and the Council. Do you want to end up like her?
"No, but..."
But nothing! Gees, they are right. You can't let go! You can't learn to do that!
"But she's my friend..."
You think you're the only one who has friends they trust. Time changes people. Who you thought they were was but a mask on who they truly were! Believe me, I know!
"How?" asked Storm.
Because I am... the element of sacrifice. I am... Unity.
The boy's conversation with the female voice in his head halted. The Jedi felt a presence enter the room as the doors opened to reveal someone walking in.
"You did well, my apprentice," said Luna as she entered the room with her hands behind her back.
"Thank you, Master," said Storm as he kept looking at the strand.
"Your mission was a success. Some of the other members of the Council believe that you're ready for the next thing," said the woman to her student.
Storm didn't answer as he just kept looking out the window. Luna sighed as she knew what her son was thinking.
"You're worried about your friend, aren't you?"
"It's just... I don't believe that Ahsoka would do this. For long as I've known her, she's not the type of person to get revenge. She's unlike Anakin, who lets his feelings be shown in battle and affect him. She would never betray the Jedi ideals." stated Storm. "I just think she's still innocent."
"I understand. It's hard to believe a friend you've grown up with suddenly do something like this. I get it, my student. I would be lying if I said I didn't comprehend." spoke Luna, using her motherly tone. "But the Jedi Council must be fair, less we lose the people's popularity. What's done is done, I'm sorry to say."
The teen put his head down, knowing his Master was right.
"Now, it's in the hands of the Senate. Whatever happens, happens. Now... as a member of the Jedi Council, we are meant to avoid getting involved. But... as your mother... you do what you feel is right."
Storm lifted his head in surprise. He turned to see Luna walking away and heading toward the door. The boy was stunned by what his Master was saying as she stopped.
"If you can help your friend in her time of need, then do it," said Luna, smiling, turning her head to eye her son.
"Luna," gasped Storm, seeing what she implied what he should do.
The Jedi Master kept her smile before exiting the room and heading to the Senate building to attend Ahsoka's trial. Storm was left alone as he looked at the strand in his hand again. The boy recalled the words that Twilight had spoken to him earlier.
If people aren't there for you in your bad times, don't expect them to be there in your good times.
Storm sighed once more before leaving. Down in the lower levels of Coruscant, an individual was shown walking among the streets. The person was Ventress, as the bounty hunter was minding her business. A hooded figure was watching her from above a walkway; Ventress sensed the person watching her as she smiled. The figure jumped as it landed behind the bounty hunter.
"Anakin Skywalker," said Ventress as she sensed the Jedi.
"I know you're behind all of this," growled the Jedi Knight.
"Prove it," barked Ventress.
She then began to jump as Anakin followed her. The assassin grabbed a metal pipe to defend herself as she swung at the Jedi. Anakin turned on his lightsaber and sliced at the pipe several times as it easily cut through the metal. He then thrust his hand out to use the Force to fling the assassin back into a wall and began to choke her.
"Leave me alone," said Ventress.
"Tell me what happened!" demanded Anakin.
"When I heard your little brat was on the run, I thought she might bring a large bounty," said Ventress as she felt herself starting to lose air.
"Bounty?" responded Anakin as his anger grew and leaned Ventress against the railing and held his lightsaber to her neck.
"I was going to catch your pet and turn her over to the authorities, collect whatever bounty was due," confessed Ventress.
Anakin released his hold on Ventress. The assassin was coughing and attempting to regain air while rubbing her throat.
"What stopped you?" asked the Jedi.
"At first... I admit... I was just interested in the money and a little bit of revenge, but then I realized your fallen Padawan, and I had a lot in common."
"How dare you compare yourself to Ahsoka?" growled Anakin at the assassin for thinking his student was like her.
"It's true. My master abandoned me, and that's exactly what you did to her, you and your precious Jedi Order," stated Ventress.
Anakin growled more but soon realized what she meant as he expressed sorrow. At the same time, Ahsoka's trial with the Senate was getting underway. The girl was being escorted by some clones. The former Jedi was being brought into a giant room as members of the Senate, and senators were looking at her on both sides. Master Plo, Kenobi, Yoda, Celestia, and Luna were among the crowd as they all sat to watch the girl's trial. Ahsoka looked up as before her was Chancellor Palpatine, as he would be the judge for the Republic trial. Emerging from her right side were Padmé and Twilight, hoping to help her. Celestia noticed this and glared at Twilight for getting involved as she disapproved of her student, especially after receiving the letter that pardoned her. Ahsoka smiled, seeing her friends, when the door to her left opened up, and in walking was Admiral Tarkin. The man was smiling smugly as he would be the prosecutor for this trial and was looking to do anything to send Ahsoka away for good.
"Ahsoka Tano, you have been charged with sedition against the Jedi Order and the Republic itself. This court will decide your fate. Prosecution, you may begin your arguments." said Palpatine as he sat down.
"Former Padawan Tano, I shall prove that you were the mastermind behind the attack on the Jedi Temple and that once your accomplices carried out your orders, you eliminated them one by one. When you are found guilty, I ask the court that the full extent of the law be brought down upon you, including penalty of death," stated Admiral Tarkin, as he wanted the girl to die.
Meanwhile...
"After I left the warehouse, after I left your little Padawan alone, I was walking away, and I thought she came up behind me to talk more. But I was wrong. Someone came out of nowhere and hit me from behind." said Ventress while talking with Anakin. "Not just anyone can sneak up behind me. It had to be another Jedi." stated the assassin, knowing how hard it was to creep up on a Force-sensitive person without sensing their presence.
"I don't believe you," responded Anakin.
"Believe it. Whoever you're looking for has my lightsabers. That's how you'll know you've found the criminal." stated Ventress as she was still missing her weapons.
"Well, this leads me to a dead end," sighed Anakin as he leaned over the railing with his back turned to Ventress. "You're the only one Ahsoka had talked to."
"That's not true," stated Ventress as she recalled something.
"What do you mean?" asked the Jedi Knight as he turned to look at her.
"Your Padawan contacted the Temple. She spoke to someone named Barriss. That's why we knew to go to the warehouse in the first place. It was this Barriss that told us to go there." confessed Ventress.
"If you're lying, you're dead," threatened Anakin as he turned to leave.
"Such promises," snickered Ventress as Anakin took off.
Storm was currently watching the footage of Ahsoka being captured. From her accounts, she mentioned that Ventress ambushed her, but according to the footage, the boy didn't see any sign of the bounty hunter. He leaned back as he sighed; he hoped to find some clue to help his friend. But that seemed to be a dead end.
"What am I missing?" asked Storm.
The Jedi Knight looked at his hand as he still had the Padawan braid. The boy looked it over, wondering if it could give him a sign. Just then, a thought ran through his head. Storm recalled that when Commander Fox and his men surrounded Ahsoka and Ventress, they were near a holographic system. It was tampered with that Ahsoka was trying to ensure they couldn't track her signal.
Which meant she got in contact with someone that could potentially help her. Storm began to use the control panel to see if he could pinpoint the source of the call. The Jedi Knight managed to find something as he noticed Ahsoka's call from her comlink before she destroyed it. He isolated it and found out the call's recipient was not Barriss. The boy knew that Barriss had been grieving following the bombing because someone she knew had died in the explosion.
"Maybe she can help me," stated the boy as he began to head toward the girl's room.
"Look at the facts. Letta Turmond called Ahsoka to her cell to reveal the name of the true mastermind behind the bombing of the Jedi Temple. Letta told Ahsoka she was afraid. She told her the mastermind was a Jedi, and before she could reveal the Jedi's name, Letta Turmond was strangled to death by way of the Force." stated Padmé to the court. "Why would Ahsoka kill Letta with a method that would so obviously tie the murder to her? Plus, there was a witness there who saw the incident. Ms. Twilight Sparkle, Jedi Knight."
The senator gestured to the princess as everybody looked at her. Celestia scolded upon seeing Twilight as she went against her command of not getting involved.
"Ms. Twilight and Padawan Tano have been friends for a long time. As friends, they have watched each other's backs for years. She states her friend is innocent and would never harm anybody for personal vengeance. I believe her. And I believe she speaks the truth and her friend is innocent. A Jedi may be responsible for the murder, but that Jedi is not Ahsoka Tano. Members of the court, you are prosecuting the wrong Jedi."
"Well said, Senator Amidala. However, if she is innocent, then why was she seen conspiring with known Separatist terrorist, Asajj Ventress?" countered Admiral Tarkin as he glared at Ahsoka.
"Ventress set me up. My master will prove that," stated the girl.
"And where is your master?" retorted Admiral Tarkin.
"He's trying to find the real murderer."
"Then maybe he should be looking at you," barked Tarkin as he pointed at the helpless girl.
At the Jedi Temple, Anakin had returned as he, too, was making his way to speak with Barriss. The Jedi Knight stood before the girl's door as he looked to enter when he stopped. Inside, Barriss was shown meditating in front of some candles. The Padawan was concentrating and focusing her mind as a knock was heard.
"Enter," responded the girl with her eyes closed.
Anakin pushed the button as the door opened, and he walked in.
"Barriss, I need to talk to you."
"Master Skywalker, how can I help you?" responded the Padawan as she stood up and looked at the Jedi Knight.
"I was told that you spoke with Ahsoka before she was arrested," said Anakin as he walked before the girl and used the Force to grab her lightsaber while passing by. "What did you say to her?"
"We've been friends for a long time. I was only trying to help her. I hope I'm not in any trouble." responded Barriss.
"It's no trouble. I just need to know what you told her and if you told anyone else," stated Anakin.
"No, I thought I had a clue for her, but I really couldn't tell her anything. Who told you I spoke to her?" asked the Padawan.
"Ventress. She told me," answered Anakin.
"Ventress? Isn't she the one Ahsoka says is really behind all this?" questioned the girl.
"That's what Ahsoka says, but I think she's wrong. Ventress thinks someone else is involved," said Anakin as he turned his back to the girl, who was acting very shifty as she glanced at a pot in the corner of her room and was slowly approaching it.
"And you believe her?" asked Barriss. "Who else could it be if not her? Surely not Ahsoka."
"No, I don't think it was Ahsoka, either. I think both Ahsoka and Ventress are telling the truth, but there's only one way to find out."
Anakin quickly turned and ignited Barriss' lightsaber to swing at the girl who had her hands out to retrieve some lightsabers from inside the pot as she turned them on to block, a red color showed.
"Funny. Those belong to Ventress. You should've gotten rid of them!" shouted Anakin.
"I think they suit me," remarked Barriss.
The pair engaged and exchanged attacks before Anakin kicked the Padawan away as she flew through the door and rolled through. Barriss then took off as Anakin gave chase.
"I'm sure many of you look at this former Jedi and think, "Surely she cannot be this murderer" or saboteur that they speak of." And yet think of all the times we have been fooled by the Separatists and how they have infiltrated the Republic and ask yourself, "Is this yet another Separatist scheme?" Another way to rip the Jedi, and subsequently all of us, apart." said Palpatine to everyone.
"Barriss? Barriss?" said Storm as the boy arrived at the girl's room. He was surprised to see it was open as he peeked in. The room was empty as the Jedi Knight was hoping the Padawan would be in her room so that he could talk with her.
"If she's not here, where could she be?" wondered the teen.
Soon the sounds of lightsabers whooshing caught his ear. The Jedi crept toward the sound as he pulled out his lightsaber and kept it close, ready to turn it on instantly. He crouched behind a corner and peeked his head out. To his surprise, he saw Barriss as the Padawan was fighting Anakin. Storm was confused until he heard the latest conversation from the pair.
"Ahsoka trusted you, and you betrayed her!" shouted Anakin.
"I've learned that trust is overrated. The only thing the Jedi Council believes in is violence," responded Barriss.
"What? Barriss... is the traitor?!" said Storm in disbelief.
The boy was trying to wrap his mind around what was revealed. He was trying to figure out why Barriss would set up Ahsoka when they were best friends. The Jedi couldn't make sense of all this as, right now, he needed to capture Barriss to get some answers.
Anakin pulled out his lightsaber and turned it on, now dual wielding along with Barriss' lightsaber. He approached the Padawan as she began to block his attacks. The Jedi Knight managed to corner the girl into one of the windows as she leaped onto the nearby walls and used the higher ground to her advantage of leaping over Anakin. She flipped over to the other side and thrust her hand out to send the Jedi Knight into one of the booths as he leaned. Barriss went for a downward attack as Anakin blocked and quickly used his legs to kick the Padawan back as she stumbled.
Anakin got up and recomposed himself. Barriss saw this and looked to escape when she turned to her right and noticed some Jedi Sentiels appearing with their double-bladed lightsabers.
"Cease hostility!" said one of them to the Padawan.
Barriss looked to run to her left when some more appeared. Emerging from behind them was Storm as he had gone to get some additional help. The boy turned on his own yellow lightsaber as he looked at Anakin. He smiled and nodded at his friend, signaling that he was backing him up, to which Anakin returned the gestures. Both sides began to close in as it seemed Barriss had no way to escape; however, that didn't stop her as she ran toward a window.
"Barriss!" shouted Anakin as he ran.
The Padawan crashed through the window as it shattered and dropped to the level below, with Anakin giving chase. Storm looked through the shattered window as he noticed Anakin and Barriss above the courtyard.
"Follow me!" said Storm to the Jedi Sentinels as they looked to meet up and cut off Barriss in the courtyard if she tried to escape.
With the pair, they landed and began to immediately duel once more. Each blocked the other while using their other lightsaber to attack and sometimes guided the other out of the way. Down below them, Master Sinube was teaching a youngling class some lightsaber techniques when they all heard and turned to see Anakin and Barriss battling above them. Barriss managed to land a roundhouse kick on Anakin as she threw the Jedi Knight off. The Jedi screamed as he tumbled all the down by the youngling's feet, causing Master Sinube to pull out his lightsaber.
"Look out!" stated one of the younglings to the Jedi Knight.
Anakin was coming to as he was on his hands and knees when he heard that. He turned to see Barriss coming down with both lightsabers as she sought to end him. He managed to get on his back and block her attack before she got off and landed to quickly turn around and strike. At that time, Anakin got to his knees, rolled out of the way of her first strike, and extended his leg to kick Barriss in her midsection to make her stumble.
Now wielding only his lightsaber, the Jedi Knight stood up and engaged Barriss once more while Master Sinube kept the class of younglings behind him for protection. Storm and the other Jedi Sentiels made it to the courtyard; they began to surround the battling duo while creating a perimeter to seal off any escape for Barriss. Anakin blocked Barriss' latest attack as he used his free hand to grab her left wrist and used his strength to overpower it, making her drop her lightsaber. Now both were left with a single lightsaber as they clashed, and the hum could be heard to signify how intense the crackling was.
Anakin was tapping into his anger and hate as it gave him power. The Jedi Knight was using that power to his advantage as Barriss was shocked, seeing how such emotion was fueling the Jedi Knight's feelings and emotions. His anger and hate made him stronger as he was now wailing on her lightsaber with his, and she dropped to a knee and was doing her best to just block his attacks. Seeing she had no way out and with Anakin overpowering her, Barriss made a desperate attack. She pushed back from Anakin's latest attack and quickly went for a lunge as the Jedi Knight countered by extending his hand to make her move slowly for two seconds before thrusting it out and sending Barriss into the sacred tree. The girl tried to get off but was held by Anakin's Force grip as she was helpless.
In the Senate Building, the court had finished. And the jury was about to reveal their verdict on Ahsoka.
"The members of the court have reached a decision," said one of the jury as he stood up and spoke.
Chancellor Palpatine was given the hologram card that had the jury's decision as he looked at it before getting up from his chair to deliver the girl's fate.
"Ahsoka Tano, by an overwhelming count of..."
"Chancellor!" shouted Anakin.
Everyone turned to look behind Ahsoka as the doors opened, and the Jedi Knight entered. Behind him were several Jedi Sentiels with their lightsabers out as Storm was behind his friend, holding someone in his hands.
"Oh, no. No, no," muttered Luna upon seeing her student was involved with what Anakin was doing. The Jedi Master began to feel stressed, knowing Storm was embarrassing herself by interrupting the court.
The woman pulled her face as every other Jedi Master, including her sister, looked at her. It seemed they wanted an explanation for why her student was interrupted as she tried her best to put on a fake smile.
"I'm gonna put him through hell when this is done!" shouted Luna to herself as she was gonna need to punish Storm for making her look bad in front of the others.
"I hope you have a reason for bursting into our proceedings, Master Skywalker," said the Chancellor as he didn't like that the two friends came in at the last second when Ahsoka's fate was about to be revealed.
"I'm here with evidence and a confession from the person responsible for all the crimes. Ahsoka has been accused of. Barriss Offee, member of the Jedi Order and traitor." said the Jedi Knight.
He stepped to the side to show the girl as she was in handcuffs with her hands behind her back as Storm held her. Almost everyone was stunned by what they saw. Twilight couldn't believe what was said. To think that one of her best friends, someone she had trusted with her life, had caused all this. However, as shocked as Twilight was... Ahsoka was even more shocked.
"Barriss, is that true?" asked the girl to her friend.
"Tell them the truth," said Storm as he told the girl to relay what she told him and Anakin when they captured her.
Barriss huffed at the boy holding her before stepping forward to address the court and everybody present.
"I did it because I've come to realize what many of people in the Republic have come to realize, that the Jedi are the ones responsible for this war, that we've so lost our way that we have become villains in this conflict, that we are the ones that should be put on trial, all of us! And my attack on the Temple was an attack on what the Jedi have become, an army fighting for the dark side, fallen from the light that we once held so dear. This Republic is failing! It's only a matter of time." stated Barriss as she voiced herself.
"Take her away," said Palpatine.
The Jedi Sentiels took Barriss and began to guide her away, leaving Anakin and Storm. The pair turned to look at Ahsoka as they smiled; the girl was, thankfully, her friends had managed to help her and clear her name. Yet, she put her head down and lost her smile. Storm looked over at Twilight as he winked at the girl. The princess smiled before she looked away. The bookworm was recalling what Barriss had just said. About how... the Jedi were the villains and they were the cause of the war.
What many of people in the Republic have come to realize that the Jedi are the ones responsible for this war, that we've so lost our way that we have become villains in this conflict. An army fighting for the dark side, fallen from the light!
"Are we?" wondered Twilight.
It was later as in the Council room, all the Jedi Masters on Ahsoka's trial were present. They had called the former Padawan and Anakin in as they wanted to speak.
"Ahsoka, I am so sorry about everything," said Anakin as he apologized to his student.
"You have our most humble apologies, little 'Soka. The Council was wrong to accuse you," said Master Plo to the girl.
"You have shown such great strength and resilience in your struggle to prove your innocence," stated Master Tiin.
"This is the true sign of a Jedi Knight," said Master Mundi.
"This was actually your great trial. Now we see that. We understand that the Force works in mysterious ways, and because of this trial, you have become a greater Jedi than you would have otherwise." said Master Windu.
"Back into the Order, you may come," spoke Yoda as he informed the girl she could return home.
"They're asking you back, Ahsoka. I'm asking you back," said Anakin as he revealed something in his hand. He opened as inside was her Padawan braid. Storm had given the braid to his friend so he could return it to the girl.
Ahsoka saw her braid and looked at it. She glanced up at her teacher as Anakin smiled warmly and genuinely. She looked at the thing again as her hand began to move. It looked like the girl would grab the braid, but instead, her hands grabbed Anakin's. Instead of taking the thing, she simply folded Anakin's hand and thrust it back toward him. It confused the Jedi Knight as Ahsoka looked at her mentor.
"I'm sorry, Master, but I'm not coming back," said Ahsoka with a sad expression.
With that, she began to walk away and exited through the door. Outside, Storm and Twilight were waiting. The boy was leaning against a wall with his arms crossed while Twilight pressed her ear against the door, hoping to hear what was happening inside. The doors open as there stood Ahsoka, Twilight was expecting her friend to be happy but instead got a sad look. A simple shake of her head as Ahsoka kept on walking. Twilight was shocked as Storm just kept his noncaring and cool expression. He turned to look inside and saw Anakin and the rest of the Jedi Masters in disbelief at what happened.
"Ahsoka, wait!" shouted Anakin as he began to chase after his student.
Twilight soon began to follow after a few seconds as only Storm remained. The boy merely looked at his Master as Luna nodded. The boy sighed as he reluctantly got up from leaning and began walking toward his friends. Master Yoda merely put his head down and shook it from side to side at seeing the four friends and how their friendships were now changing forever.
Ahsoka was near the Temple steps as Anakin was shown running behind; the Jedi Knight was looking to talk some sense into his student about changing her decision.
"Ahsoka, I need to talk to you. Why are you doing this?" asked Anakin to the girl. She stopped and turned to face her friends, but more importantly, her teacher.
Twilight came up behind the Jedi Knight as she looked on. Storm eventually made his way and caught up with the others as he merely crossed his arms again and remained stoic.
"The Council didn't trust me, so how can I trust myself?" asked the girl.
"What about me? I believed in you. I stood by you." said Anakin.
"I know you believe in me, Anakin, and I'm grateful for that. But this isn't about you. I can't stay here any longer, not now." said Ahsoka.
"The Jedi Order is your life. You can't just throw it away like this," shouted Anakin, not wanting to let go of his student. "Ahsoka, you are making a mistake. "
"Maybe, but I have to sort this out on my own, without the Council and without you," confessed the girl as she needed to find the answers by herself, without her friends, and without her mentor. Anakin needed to let her go, but... he wasn't doing that.
"I understand," said Anakin as they momentarily turned their backs on each other. "More than you realize, I understand wanting to walk away from the Order."
The Jedi Knight knew what his student was saying, as he also wanted to give up everything to have what he wanted. He knew what he truly desired and how he could have it if he walked away. But by walking away, he would also give up the other thing he wanted. For Anakin, he wanted two things: his love for Padmé and the power that came from being a Jedi. However... those two things were something that could not be obtained together.
"I know," responded Ahsoka.
Anakin gasped after hearing Ahsoka say that. Almost like... she knew.
"Goodbye, Twilight," said Ahsoka, looking at her friend, who had grown somewhat of a big sister to her since they first met.
The princess tried not to show tears but merely shook her head to acknowledge her friend leaving. The former Jedi looked at Storm as the boy kept his stone-cold expression. Nothing was said by the two as they merely looked at each other. Ahsoka merely nodded as Storm returned the gesture; everything that needed to be said between the two came from that gesture as she turned and began to walk. Anakin turned to look as he saw Ahsoka heading toward the steps. The sun in the background was shown as Ahsoka began to walk down the steps, and she was gone in the blink of an eye. Gone. Gone. Gone.
Storm was shown looking out a window in one of the Temple hallways. The boy had been staring out of it for quite some time. Anakin was still trying to get over Ahsoka leaving, but even he could see he couldn't let her go. As for him, well... that wasn't his place.
"Need something, Sparky?" asked Storm as he could sense Twilight was behind him.
"I've been thinking," said the princess.
"About what?"
"What if... what if what Barriss said is true?"
"Huh?" said Storm, almost immediately looking at his partner and questioning why she would say something so... stupid.
"I mean... what she said... I've been thinking. She does have a point." said Twilight.
"You've been thinking way too much," scoffed Storm as he left.
"Storm!" shouted Twilight as she began to go after her partner.
"I can't believe you would even side with that traitor. She nearly got you thrown in jail!" shouted Storm as they walked.
"I know... but..."
"But nothing! Speaking of which, how did you get out of jail? You never answered my question!" yelled Storm.
Twilight sighed as she had to come clean. Celestia promised her student to not say anything.
"My father. He... he... he threatened the Republic. He wrote a statement that said to release and pardon all charges. Less... the Republic wants an issue with Equis." confessed the girl.
"Your father, the King? Threaten the Republic?" said Storm in disbelief.
The boy was shocked to hear that someone like Twilight's dad was so powerful that he threatened the Republic to release his daughter. With all the Republic's power, they were scared of a planet that not many knew about. That alone spoke volumes.
Twilight could see her partner was lulling over what she said. She sighed before walking past him and continued to speak.
"What Barriss said about the Jedi not being peacekeepers. That the war started because of us and the violence spreading across the galaxy is our fault," said the princess as she looked out a window.
"I can't believe that you're gonna believe her bullshit!" growled Storm as Twilight looked at the boy she had feelings for. "She just said that because she believes in her own idealogy. We're the heroes."
"But what if..."
"ENOUGH!" yelled Storm as he got up in Twilight's face.
"I'm... sick of it! I'm sick of all this! I've had it! I've had it up to here with everybody saying, "Oh, the Jedi are the ones! The Jedi are the bad guys! The Jedi are the villains!" said Storm in a mocking tone. "WE'RE NOT THE BAD GUYS! We're the heroes! We're the ones who are fighting to save the galaxy! We're the ones who are trying to bring peace, and anybody who thinks otherwise is either too stupid or retarded to see what's clearly in front of them!"
Twilight was taken aback by how her partner acted like she'd never seen him like this.
"To think I thought you were smart."
"What's that supposed to mean?!" yelled Twilight as she followed her partner.
"It means you're too stuck in your books and trying to argue the conversation logically when it's clear as the night is from the day that we're on the good side. And if you believe there's any truth in what Barriss said, then you're just..."
"SAY IT!" yelled Twilight, getting in her partner's face, wanting to hear what Storm would call her. "SAY IT! SAY IT TO MY FACE!"
"You're stupid!" responded Storm without a second thought. "I have worked hard to get to where I am! I have worked hard to achieve my dreams. And I will not let anyone disrespect me or any other great Jedi that came before and who worked so hard to create and pave the path for me to follow. I will not throw away everything that my Master has worked to prepare me for!"
"Including me!" asked Twilight, the girl standing her ground as she stared down her friend.
"Especially you!" scoffed Storm as he bumped his shoulder against the girl and kept walking.
"Here, I thought you were different. That maybe you weren't like every other Jedi. That you cared. But I guess I was wrong." confessed Twilight as Storm stopped to turn his head. "I was a fool to think you cared about anybody but yourself. She was right. Celestia was right about you."
"Congrats, you're kissing your Master's ass again. You've only been doing it for what, your whole damn life, princess! If you were gonna be a Jedi Master, then that's your specialty, right there. Kissing Celestia's ass!" retorted Storm. "I know who I am, Twilight. We can't all be like you, born with a silver spoon in her mouth, can do anything she wants with a snap of her finger, and has her life all figured out."
"You think I have my life figured out!" yelled Twilight. "I may be royalty, but I'm far from perfect. Everybody expects something of me. The people on my planet look to me and my family and think of us as gods! GODS! We stand above the mortals; they listen to our beck and call. They follow our command without any hesitation. That's what people refer to us as. And I'm anything but a god. I'm anything from a perfect little princess they're supposed to believe in. If they really knew who I was, they'd see I'm nothing but an insecure little girl who can't make a decision if her life depended on it!"
The bookworm felt her face starting to go hot. Tears of liquid were starting to form in Twilight's eyes. All the years and stress that had been building on her shoulders and inside of her were released. She couldn't hold it in; she had to vent and let it all out for everyone to hear. Twilight broke down.
"I'm not who my parents or Master want me to be. Because I don't even know who I am. So don't you dare disrespect me by saying I have it easy!" yelled Twilight.
"And you think I have it any better, nerd!" yelled the boy.
Twilight gasped as she heard the word that Storm labeled her as.
"This is all that I have! This is everything to me! I have given all my blood, sweat, and tears for the Jedi! I don't have a family; I don't even know who my goddamn parents are! But I know what I'm destined for. It's been my destiny since my Master raised me. It's been my destiny since she took me under her care. She's been telling me repeatedly, but now, on this day, I see clearly what she meant. Between me and you, nerd. Only one of us has what it takes to be a true Jedi!"
"A true Jedi?!" yelled Twilight as Storm disrespected her even more.
"Don't feel bad, nerd. 'Cause you weren't gonna be around anyways, right? Go ahead and be Queen and let me fight this war. 'Cause I'm fighting for everybody that has died along the way; I'm fighting for everybody who believes in the Republic; I'm fighting for everybody who believes in the Jedi and the light side of the Force. I'm fighting for everybody who believes in me to save the day from the bad guys! I'm fighting for everybody whose dream was to be here. Because this is my life! This is my passion! THIS IS ALL THAT I HAVE!"
Storm growled after giving his passionate statement as he stared down Twilight like she was an obstacle standing in his way.
"All you have to worry about is figuring out which guy you wanna get laid by!"
At that moment, Twilight lost it. She lost control and let her rage and emotions take control. The girl yelled as she charged at her partner and tackled him from behind. The two were now tumbling down the stairs, landing in the courtyard as they rolled through and stood up. In the blink of an eye, they had their lightsabers out and arms extended. The teens had their lightsabers near their partner's neck as one movement would chop the other's head off. Both Storm and Twilight glared at each other.
"You really want to do this?" asked Storm.
Both pushed back as they skidded to a halt; each Jedi Knight took a stance as they prepared to fight. Storm and Twilight began to move counterclockwise; Soon, Storm made a move as Twilight initiated the proper counterattack as both of their blades clashed.
Storm then pushed away from the blade for a bit and spun around to kick the girl in the midsection, but Twilight saw it coming as when her blade was pushed back, she recovered immediately and jumped up to avoid the kick. She landed as Storm had a scowl on his face. He then charged forward and began to move his blade from left to right, hitting several side attacks, but Twilight kept her balance as she countered every swing of the boy's blade and then leaped over him to get away. Storm then turned around, going for low and high attacks as Twilight easily blocked each one.
Twilight then saw her opening as she collided her blade with Storm's and then moved theirs in a circle; she completed the full rotation, flicked the weapon up, and then kicked the boy in his chest as Storm was pushed back with his feet dragging. Twilight then closed in the distance as she was now on the offensive, and it was Storm who had to switch positions. Twilight jumped and did a downward slash as Storm blocked it. Twilight landed and spun in the air for several rotations as her blade kept hitting Storm's, pushing him back. She then threw her blade at the boy as he blocked it, only to return to her hand in a second as she hammered the boy with shots. While Twilight kept hammering him, he took the few seconds he had before her next attack hit to leap into the air. Twilight saw this and jumped as she raised her blade at Storm, who was upside down and blocked her blade with his. The two held their position briefly before falling onto the ground.
The moment both landed, they crossed blades again and cartwheeled before clashing again. Back and forth, they were going as neither wanted to give an inch; they even tried to catch the other off by doing a Force push, but both thought of the same thing as they put their hands out and were repelled. Both leaped up and met in the air again as their faces were close. They landed, and Storm swept Twilight from under as she fell, and the boy jumped on her, as she countered by wrapping her legs around his neck and then switched them over as she prepared to punch the boy. Storm moved his head and caught her arm with his, and the two rolled around on the ground, trying to be on top. Storm got off to avoid Twilight kicking him off.
The teens were staring a hole at each other as their breathing became heavy. Rain began to fall as thunder and lightning boomed; in seconds, both teens were pelted by the massive downpour, eyeing the other. Now on opposite sides, the two friends/potential crushes glared the other down. Each fought for what they believed in, different ideologies, statuses, lifestyles, and problems they had.
While the pair brawled in the courtyard in front of the sacred tree, two individuals watched them. On opposite sides of the Temple, looking out of some windows, were the kids' Masters. Luna and Celestia sensed their apprentices' emotions and feelings as they looked into the courtyard. With how things became affected by Ahsoka's leaving, the Jedi Masters suspected it would change things between them... and it did. Celestia senses Twilight's belief about what Barriss said, and Luna senses Storm's undying loyalty to being a Jedi. The line in the sand separating good from evil became even more blurred.
Storm and Twilight gripped their lightsabers tightly in their hands. The pair then rushed forward as they yelled while charging; they made contact as they met in the middle to allow their blades to clash. Each tried to subdue the other as the hum of their lightsabers crackling could be heard. What followed next was something as Storm and Twilight tapped into their Force powers, and their movement and speed increased. While it seemed they were clashing like normal, the pair moved so fast in the blink of an eye. It looked like tons of lightsabers were swinging around, but that added to how fast the pair were striking and attacking. In fact, the two Jedi Knights briefly created a 12-foot diameter open space in a heavy rainstorm as when they clashed for the latest swing, the barrier broke, and the rain continued to pour on them. In short, Storm and Twilight destroyed about 108,000 raindrops to create that open space in less than a second, showcasing how fast they moved when tapping into their powers.
Meanwhile... on a planet, a case was shown. Inside the case were several artifacts. Five of the seven were necklaces. The biggest one was a crown with a shining gem, resembling its Element. And the last one was a bracelet that housed a piece of the other with the seventh one in the middle. As Storm and Twilight continued to clash blades, the two Elements shined before a large crack appeared on them.
Author's Note: And with that... this is the finale of Season 5. Many things to talk about. First off, this is when Disney acquired it and this was considered the final episode as it was cancelled. Now, just knowing that, and the kind of ending we got, it does leave an impression on you. Especially, with the added scene of Storm fighting Twilight. Now because of the show's cancellation, season 6 was already ready when it happen, cause the creators for Clone Wars make the seasons about two years in advance from when they aired, so they had a bunch of finished when they got cancelled, so they threw up on Netflix a Season 6 and that served as sort of the ending to the series. But as we now know, years and years later, we got one final season that tied up all the knots and loose ends from the show.
Now, that's all the behind the scene info. As for the story itself, the departure of Ahsoka sends into motion more of what's to come for Anakin and his descent into the Dark Side of the Force. Cause as pointed out by Storm when he was debating with Twilight, Anakin can't learn to let go and that's ultimately why he turns into the villain that's to come. Finding out that Night Light was the one who bailed his daughter out and THREATEN the Republic to release her, and asking that she had no association with the crime of Ahsoka. And the ending between Storm and Twilight, both being passionate while yelling at each other. Storm being loyal to the one home that he's only had and ever knows, while Twilight is an outsider and not a fully dedicated Jedi looking in and seeing what many people think about them. And their fighting not only takes a toll on their relationship and whatever feelings might have been their, but also causing a massive chain reaction as it seems to be affecting their Elements. One thing that is now the main focus is... "Where do we go from here?". As always, leave a review expressing your thoughts and comments, especially on this one.