Chapter 22 - Legends Never Die
Author's Note: Aaaand this is the end! Thank you all SO much to everyone who was a part of this journey! We appreciate your support immensely, and I hope that you enjoy this ending! :D
This is the end of the story, but not, by any means, the end of this found family's adventures. I'm sure a lot more happens with them, especially with the Jedi controlling the Republic, but that's not a part of this story and nor it one we're planning to tell. :)
~ Amina Gila
It's been a few days since Anakin's spoken to Qui-Gon. Of everyone, he's the only one who joined the Jedi since coming back. The room he's staying in now is the same room Qui-Gon from this reality used to live in.
Anakin... has never been there before until now. The room looks very non-personal, and Anakin settles onto one of the floor cushions across from Qui-Gon. He must've been meditating before Anakin showed up. "You asked for me?"
"I spoke to the Council about the situation in the galaxy," Qui-Gon explains, something tight in his expression – he doesn't seem very happy, even if he's not showing it much.
Anakin perks up, even if he's wary. "What happened?"
"They were reluctant to give up any measure of control over the Republic right now. Some don't believe they should have that kind of control, but the majority doesn't want to let it go until things... settle down."
An uneasy feeling tightens inside him. "You don't think they will?"
"I find it unlikely. Especially as many of them, perhaps rightfully, fear retaliation from the Senate once they do step down."
That's a fair point. It's not a good situation on either side and he doesn't know what to do. He doesn't want something to happen to the Jedi here, too, but they can't just... forcibly take on a role they were never meant to. Especially if they aren't even helping.
He doesn't want to have to consider starting a... rebellion again.
He can't believe he's even thinking that at all. Maybe he spent too long in that kind of mindset in the other reality. Maybe. Hopefully.
"What should we do?" Anakin asks, because he has no idea.
"Only the Force can determine our destinies and the fate of the Jedi Order," Qui-Gon replies, gravely, "But I believe that once the galaxy reaches the state it is in now, the... time of the Jedi is past. That was as true in my reality as it appears to be here."
A chill runs through him. That's –
He can't imagine the Order being gone like it was in the other reality. Most of all, he's afraid of Obi-Wan or Ahsoka being hurt when something happens. Because if the time of the Jedi is past, then it's probably only inevitable that something happens to them. And he also doesn't want to have to consider the Jedi enemies.
Force.
Everything is so confusing. Has been ever since he came back to Coruscant from the Outer Rim sieges for the first time, though.
"Sometimes, I wonder what's happening to the Jedi Order," Anakin confesses, "I think the war destroyed the principles of the Republic, and... the Order." They weren't like this before. The Order has fallen so much already. Maybe Qui-Gon is right that the time of the Jedi is past because he doesn't know if they're at a point they can come back from.
"When the Order still stood in the other reality, I noticed the same. It has been a gradual change, but it is worse here," Qui-Gon agrees.
"They asked me to spy on the Chancellor, before this happened," Anakin says, quietly. He hasn't been able to talk to anyone about this – he couldn't tell Palpatine anything when it was him that he was betraying. Even if he can see why they were suspicious of him now, that doesn't make what they did legally right. "I think that's the only reason they agreed to have me put on the Council."
"You were on the Council?" he asks, surprised.
"For a few days before I reality jumped. They... replaced me after I left." (Because they never wanted him in the first place. They never have.)
"You're already a Master?" He sounds surprised and impressed at once.
It only makes Anakin feel more bitter. "No. It was at the Chancellor's request. I never wanted that position. The Chancellor insisted. They could have refused, but they did it so they could give me that mission. I don't know how long they've been intending to take control of the Republic. There is much they never told me, even after I was on the Council. I understand why they never wanted me there, but then they could have at least refused." They didn't need to rub it in his face that he was different, insignificant. (Nothing but their weapon to destroy the Sith.)
"I cannot say I'm surprised they did that, but it shows well how much they are falling," Qui-Gon replies, slowly, "I have no doubt that you will become a great Jedi Master, fit to lead the Order for a long time –" The warmth that swells through him is nearly overwhelming, even if Anakin doesn't know how Qui-Gon could see that in him. "– but you are still young. Most of all, still a Knight, and if they intend to put you on the Council regardless, treating you differently than the rest, and only doing it for a mission such as that, is... not right."
It's relieving to hear someone actually... support him when Qui-Gon's the first person he's been able to talk to about this.
"You do not appear comfortable here, like you did in the other reality," Qui-Gon notes, studying him.
Anakin looks down. "It... it has always been different here. I came too late, and they did not want me. I... have never been what they wanted, for all that I try."
"The Council believes their decisions are always the best," Qui-Gon replies, bluntly, "But they make mistakes. Everyone in the Order makes mistakes. Their interpretations of the Code do not make you a poor Jedi, Anakin. Do not forget that."
He... has no idea what to say to that. Somehow it manages to make him feel worth something for the first time in so long. Even if that was something that already started changing in the time he was away.
He doesn't know where things in the galaxy are going to go from here, but he's going to stay with his family – all of them – whatever it takes.
**w**
Plagueis' voice is ringing in Anakin's mind, an overwhelming agony whiting out everything as he feels like he's literally being ripped out of himself.
And there's an annoying beeping in the background the whole time, and when Anakin jolts awake, breathing hard, it's to see that his comm is beeping. He pushes himself up, leaning over to check the frequency in an effort to distract himself from the dream. Plagueis is dead. The entire reality is gone. He can't be hurt by that anymore. Doesn't mean he can ever quite get it out of his head, can ever stop being afraid of it. It was so close, and it – He doesn't want to keep thinking about it, but he can't stop.
At least not until he sees that it's Fives who's calling, and immediately answers.
"Is everything alright?" Anakin inquires, instantly worried. Every time they've called him, it's because something is... happening, and if they were found by the Republic... Anakin's definitely going to get them out of it, even if that could be risky. They're friends. They come first.
"We're fine," Fives assures, something... intense in his gaze that Anakin hasn't seen before. It reminds him a little of his own Fives, strangely enough. "That... isn't what I'm calling about."
"Then what?" He doesn't think it's just a casual call – they don't know each other nearly as well as he and his Fives did, even if they've worked together a lot now.
"Since coming here, I've been having... dreams," Fives explains, "Sometimes I see you. Or us fighting droids together. I saw us walking through space on the outside of a... a Separatist cruiser. And you were... there with me after – after Echo... It sounds like what you've told me of your version of me here, but that doesn't make sense, does it?"
No, it doesn't, but it's not like Anakin knows anything about the multiverse. Maybe having dreams of alternate realities isn't entirely unheard of. He wouldn't really know. "Maybe because he is... gone here, you're seeing flashes of his life?" The hopefulness that swells up inside of him is nearly overwhelming, but he – he doesn't need to get ahead of himself. His Fives is still gone, and yet, he still desperately wants that friendship back, wants him back. He doesn't think he could ever truly stop missing him.
"I remember us a bit," Fives says, smiling momentarily, a hint of mischievousness in his gaze that Anakin's Fives so often carried.
"You do?" The emotion that floods him is nearly strangling. Force, he missed him.
"I can see that we were close. Everything was... happier here." There's something momentarily distant in his gaze. Anakin can only imagine what he's remembering.
"In many ways," he agrees, quietly, "I know you're not him, but I am... glad to have met you." And he's glad that Fives is remembering a bit, that they won't have to rebuild their friendship entirely from nothing.
"So am I," Fives replies, and for a moment it doesn't feel quite as much like he's talking to the ghost of his friend – even if he already was forming a new friendship with this Fives.
It will never be the same, but it's still something.
**w**
Anakin really isn't surprised when the next person to call him later that day is Rex. Because apparently, he's also having dreams about the alternative reality that he can't make sense of.
"What was it... like there?" Anakin queries, because he'd like to know how it was for Rex there. Even if he and the reality are gone.
"I didn't see much," Rex replies, something conflicted in his eyes, "But it was... hard. I never thought about what it would be like to lead without you there."
"Was it difficult between you and Ahsoka?" he has to ask, touching Rex's shoulder. He can already imagine the answer.
Rex sighs quietly, but they've been with each other long enough that he doesn't hesitate to answer. Rex was... always very rigid to the rules in the beginning. Anakin tried to tell him that he meant more than that, was more than just a number to be lost on the next mission – that even if no one else cared for him as a person Anakin always would – but it wasn't an easy thing for any of the clones to truly believe.
"She didn't know what she was doing, but she... tried to act as though she did, at least in the beginning. It was... similar to here, except... you weren't there, and her orders were the orders I had to follow. I didn't see much in my dreams, but I... know many were lost during the war because of that. But she was our commander, and I... tried to care for her. She needed it."
Anakin winces.
It's familiar enough. When raising his Ahsoka, she was... everything to them. His and Rex's kid. They did everything to protect her, to teach her to survive. The other boys helped with that, too.
He wishes he could've done everything to protect all of them.
He doesn't want to think about the other Ahsoka being responsible for so many deaths, but it's... It wasn't really her fault, either. It wasn't her fault she was raised a Sith, with no one to teach her anything else. Still hurts that Rex had to go through that, though.
"She never had anyone," Anakin tells him, "Except you. She... I am trying to give her what we gave Ahsoka during the war."
"She's still the commander, even if she's not the same. She's... our kid too."
Anakin smiles fondly. "Yes. I think she would like to know that you remember if you're... comfortable with that."
Rex nods. "You can bring her here."
Anakin tracks the two Ahsoka's down in the Room of One Thousand Foundations. They've been staying at the Temple, neither of them really sure what they're planning to do now.
"It's so... peaceful here," other-reality-Ahsoka is saying. "This place was still for meditation in the Sith Temple, but it was different. The life was gone. It was so dark there. We weren't supposed to try to be peaceful."
"This is the one place at the Temple you can't see the effects of the war. Where you can see what it used to be like before," his-Ahsoka replies.
It's... relieving to see them getting along. Anakin was afraid their fighting would last longer. He almost doesn't want to interrupt, but...
"Ahsoka?" Anakin calls. Both of them look up in perfect unison. They're even blinking in perfect unison. It's almost disturbing.
"Yes?" They're even talking in an identical tone.
"There is something I believe you should know. Rex is... having dreams. About his life in the other reality. Fives was, too – I suspect the memories of those who are one with the Force are crossing over." Even if he doesn't really understand why. Does that mean Qui-Gon might be next?
The other Ahsoka stills, breathing a quiet "oh."
"He wants to see you, if you're... alright with that."
She nods, hesitantly.
His Ahsoka decides to come along when they fly up to the cruiser. The other Ahsoka just seems to be growing increasingly nervous by the time they reach the ship. Rex is waiting for them when they get there.
"It's good to see you, Commander," he greets.
"Rex," she breathes, voice wavering, "I – I'm sorry. I didn't mean to – to get you hurt."
"I know." He seems almost uncomfortable, which... isn't really surprising. "The General wasn't there to help you. You didn't know it was going to be a trap."
Ahsoka doesn't seem to be feeling much better, but she steps closer, throwing her around him again. He returns it a little awkwardly, even if he doesn't seem quite as taken by surprise this time.
Hopefully being able to somewhat talk to her Rex – even if he only remembers a little – will help her find some kind of closure, the same that Fives getting his memories is giving Anakin.
"While we're up here, what about going flying together?" he proposes. Continuing to dwell on this isn't going to make her feel any better.
"Sure," this reality's Ahsoka replies, looking to her counterpart, "Wanna see which of us is better?"
"Don't count on winning," the other Ahsoka retorts.
Sufficient-distraction objective achieved.
And they're getting along now.
He also hasn't been able to do something with his Ahsoka in a long time. He's missed her, and it's a bonus if both of them are here.
**w**
"Surprise, surprise," Asajj singsongs, sauntering down the ramp of the ship she landed in the hangar – a ship that looks suspiciously identical to Lost Familiar.
"Is that...?" Anakin asks, taking a few steps closer.
"This reality's version of the same ship?" she finishes, shrugging, "Sure looks the same."
"It does," he agrees, feeling a ridiculous level of happiness at seeing it again. The ship held so many memories, and then it was just gone.
"Like a ghost of the past," she chirps. "Lost Familiar Jr."
"I don't think we should give it the same name," he replies, with a laugh, "It's still different than before. What about the Ghost?"
"Hmm," she hums, "Fitting. Then we can constantly remember it's a ghost of our past."
"It's true," he points out, amused, "Where did you get enough credits to buy this thing?" It's not like she came here with a single credit to her name.
"Oh, that's my secret."
"Really." On second thought, maybe he doesn't even want to know. Probably, she took a bunch of bounties and hopefully didn't do anything too questionable.
"Yeah," she replies, smugly, "Now let's call the others over to see it."
They'll probably be as happy to see the ship as Anakin himself is – Ahsoka and Padme will be, at least.
He and Asajj end up inviting everyone in Anakin's... family over to the ship, though. Even if asking both Obi-Wan's to come there might be a mistake. He's not going to leave them out of it, though.
It's on the way to the hangar that Anakin finds a moment alone with Padme. She's been staying at Senator Amidala's apartment and the Senate a lot lately, so it's good to be around her again. He can't stop thinking about that last... conversation they had about their relationship, and from the look in her eyes, he can tell she's thinking about the same thing.
Padme's hand slips into his, and Anakin throws a furtive glance around to make sure no one's watching them. Even if a part of him just... doesn't want to have to keep this a secret. He's tired of having to hide what... he is, even if he already knows the condemnation that will follow if it gets out. The halls are empty, though.
"I've been thinking," Padme says quietly, but he can practically feel how her heart is hammering with a strange level of... eagerness and nervousness at once.
"What?" He squeezes her hand back.
"About us. About making this real," she explains, "We could... marry."
Anakin stills, looking down at her.
He does want that, more than he could ever say. It won't be truly real until they're married, until they're... actually committed to raising a family together. And there's really nothing he wants more than that. He'll worry about how that's supposed to work out, later. Even if that's probably a foolish decision. Everyone already knows he's friends with this version of Padme, so it shouldn't be that difficult to hide their relationship. He still doesn't want to have to, but he'll deal with that for now. He doesn't think he's... quite ready to be thrown out of the Order. (Yet. Doesn't know how much longer he'll be able to agree with the direction the Order is going, so it might not even matter soon.)
"We can," Anakin agrees, smiling.
Padme's eyes light up. "Well then, we'll have some preparing to do. I don't know who else we'll be able to tell, but... maybe we can do it once I get back from visiting my sisters on Naboo. Unless you come with me, and we have the ceremony there."
He has no idea, but going to Naboo somehow feels fitting. Like there's something extra special about it. "I'll see if I can go to Naboo, without... raising any suspicions. But I don't even know what we're doing." He's never been to a wedding ceremony before. On Tatooine, it was more a stated thing. No slaves could have real ceremonies – especially when they'd often be sold and not even see each other again within a few months to years.
"Then we'll do it the Nubian way," Padme says. She's practically buzzing with excitement, and he can totally relate.
He does not want to have to hide this. Maybe they won't have to for long.
When they finally reach the Ghost, Anakin can already hear movement inside. The others must've gotten here before them.
Sith Obi-Wan is standing right in the doorway at the top of the ramp, and Padme pulls her hand out of Anakin's far too quickly to look natural. Anakin very carefully doesn't wince openly.
His eyes narrow the slightest bit anyway. He catches Anakin's shoulder before he walks past, right after Padme brushes past him, entering the main room.
Probably, their emotions were just a bit too obvious in that moment. Oops?
"What?" Anakin asks, frowning.
"I was unaware you two were –"
"Why does that matter?" Anakin demands. At least he has the decency to keep his voice down. "And this is not the place to talk about it."
"No," he agrees, throwing a pointed glance at the other Obi-Wan, who's now eyeing them. They both get so prickly whenever the other version of them is around, it's sometimes annoying. (Even if he doesn't mind the additional attention.) "But if she hurts you in any way..."
... Maybe Kallous is just prickly about anyone else wanting Anakin's attention period.
"We're friends," Anakin replies flatly, huffing out a breath, "You don't need to worry about that."
He still seems a little put out by it, but nods, stepping out of the way to let Anakin into the main hold of the ship.
It really does look identical to Lost Familiar, even if the lingering Force impressions in the rooms aren't there yet. The two Ahsoka's are sitting across from each other, playing dejarik in the far corner. Padme's sat down on other-reality-Ahsoka's other side, watching the game.
Asajj is standing on the far opposite side of the room as Sith Obi-Wan, watching everyone. She doesn't seem overly bothered with his presence at the moment; hopefully it's not just feigned. He didn't want to make her or Padme uncomfortable by telling either of the Obi-Wan's that they could come if they wanted.
Qui-Gon is sitting off to the side, attempting to meditate – of all things in the galaxy, in a room that's presently so chaotic.
Anakin sits down next to his Ahsoka since it's the only available spot, and his Obi-Wan is quick to claim the seat next to him before the Sith version of him can make it a few steps across the room. He's very tempted to roll his eyes about that.
Rex, Fives, and the rest of the boys obviously aren't here, but everyone else in his... now very-large family is. It's nice to actually have all of them together again.
"If we all need the ship at once, we'll have to redo the bedroom arrangement," Anakin observes, dryly.
"I'm not sharing," Asajj chirps, smirking.
"That doesn't seem fair," other-reality-Ahsoka objects.
"You and your twin are both Anakin's tookas. I'm sure you can still share with him."
His – what?!
He's not sure which of the Ahsoka's yelps louder.
Asajj cackles.
"I can't even believe she's here sometimes," his Ahsoka huffs.
"You get used to it," Anakin replies, dryly.
"You never get used to it," other-reality-Ahsoka argues.
He snorts. "That's true, too."
"How hurtful," Asajj drawls.
"Both of them sharing with mewill be fine," Anakin agrees, "I can't speak for anyone else."
"We can put both your dads in the same room as Qui-Gon," Asajj decides, smugly.
"No," Jedi Obi-Wan deadpans.
"We can space him," Sith Obi-Wan responds, smugly.
"Or we can space you both," Asajj snips.
Oh no, not this again.
How Qui-Gon is still managing to meditate is truly impressive.
"... Let's save this discussion for another time," Anakin advises. He just wants to be happy that his family is back together again. He doesn't want them to start fighting.
"Fine with me," Asajj decides, ignoring the two Obi-Wan's scowling at each other.
"The likelihood of all of us going anywhere together at the same time is probably pretty low," Padme points out, thankfully being the voice of reason and halting any further arguments.
And she has a fair point, though Anakin finds that a little disappointing. He wants them all to stay together, though he doesn't think that's something he'll need to worry about it.
They've hardly been on the ship at all, but it already does feel like home, with nearly his entire family here.
Maybe the galaxy is still hopelessly unrested, and he has no idea when it'll start calming down or where things with the Order are even going to go from here, but he still has hope that it's something they can work out. Or maybe, it's just that he finally has hope that it's... something they can do together. It doesn't feel so much like – like balancing the Force and saving everything is something he has to by himself. (It's not like he did a good job on that in the other reality.) Even if it's still a duty he has to fulfill.
Maybe it's just that he's not alone anymore, and he has to believe that they'll be fine, as long as they stay together.
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