Last chapter. *breaks down sobbing*

Hera

When Hera Syndulla had questions, she got answers.

Always.

So when she cornered Shin Hati, she expected similar results.

She could always get the truth out of people.

Shin was a much harder target, she soon found.

Phantom was the reason she had come to talk to her in the first place—he had sucesfully done his business on Chopper's head, eaten as many food-supplies as he could get his paws on, tripped everyone as they got ready to take-off, and gave twelve dramatic speeches about galactic conquest.

Twelve.

The entire crew had had their fill of Phantom.

For life.

"Your cat is a menace," Hera commented.

Shin didn't respond.

"Absolutely insane," Hera continued.

Alright, fine. I'll get to the point.

"Why did you follow him? Baylan?"

"No choice," Shin said, finally speaking, softly, quietly, like she wasn't sure if she wanted to be heard at all.

"Would you…consider joining the New Republic now that he's gone?" Hera asked quietly.

"NO."

She said it fast, too fast.

"Why?" Hera pushed.

"Because. Your New Republic only cares about making it look good. It's flawed. It's not hitting where it needs to. It's too focused on giving people 'hope', to the point it isn't fixing any real problems. It's making things look pretty. And when the Empire takes over, it's easy for them to get rid of.
Your precious New Republic is capping things over, making it look nice on top. And leaving the rest of us to drown."

Hera tilted her head. "Why drown?"

"Because some of us don't get freedom. Some of us are born for serving. So we drown in captivity," Shin said vaguely.

"The Republic has its priorities," Hera said quietly.

Shin snorted. "They aren't the right ones."

"What do you think needs to happen, then?"

"I think you need to get your hands dirty, stop covering over the messes," Shin muttered.

"I try," Hera said softly.

"You're one of the smart few who do."

Hera wondered what she meant, wondered if she'd ever understand the mysterious girl.

But for now, she'd do her best to do what she'd asked.

Sabine

As they slid into hyperspace, she leaned back in the pilot's seat. Shin seemed irritated, and was being quiet, and Ezra was playing on his data pad, doing who knows what.

Sabine couldn't help but wonder if Shin was alright—she had been through a lot, that was for sure.

And Sabine had a whole list of ideas on what that might've been.

Definitely something traumatic.

But for now? Sabine would let it go.

Until Shin was ready.

As they got closer and closer to the main galaxy, Sabine did have a question she needed an answer for.

"Shin?" She asked gently, "what now?"

Shin

What now?

Shin didn't know—she was used to people telling her what she was

and wasn't supposed to do.

Baylan had kept her busy.

Evera, her mistress, had kept her busy.

All of her former masters had.

So she didn't know what to expect now.

She assumed Sabine and Ezra would tell her where to go and what to do.

Phantom curled into her lap, purring like a thunderstorm. Yes, I am curious about this, too.

"I…don't…know," Shin admitted. "What are all of you doing?"

"Well…" Sabine began, "Ezra is going to train Jacen."

"I am?" Ezra asked, bewildered.

"You are, I already got permission from Hera," Sabine announced.

"And you didn't…tell me that…because?" Ezra muttered, crossing his arms.

"Because I'm helping, and you're going to help with my training, too. I'll help keep the kid in check, no worries," Sabine said, laughing mischievously.

Ezra sighed. "Karabast. Wish you would've told me I was taking on a Padawan—two, at that."

"I'm not your Padawan, I'll be like your…girlfriend," Sabine said slowly, smiling even more mischievously.

"Ah, I see where this is going," Ezra said, realization dawning. "You want to help me, and train Jacen because…"

"I want to be with you," Sabine finished.

"Ah. Got it," Ezra said. "We're going to Lothal, right?"

"Well, yeah. You're going to be…um, pleased about what I did to your Command Tower. I'd been living there, and…well…" Sabine trailed off, smiling more sheepishly.

Ezra scoffed. "I've seen it. And your diary."

Sabine gulped. "How much of it?"

"Uh, the million times you've written: Ezra, I…I…like…love… then trailed off ominously and left the rest of the page blank?" Ezra laughed.

Sabine turned beet red, and Shin suppressed a snort.

"Hera's going back to the New Republic with Chopper and Zeb," Sabine added.

"So that leaves…Huyang, what are you doing?" Ezra asked.

"I am going to a Jedi called Luke Skywalker. He is creating a new Jedi Order," Huyang explained, "I will teach younglings to build sabers there."

"Really?" Shin murmured.

"However, there is one problem," Huyang admitted, "I don't have anyone to fly the T-6. I can do many things, but flying the ship completely for long periods of time is not my strong suit. I really need a pilot. Perhaps I can get a New Repub—"

Shin cut him off. "I'll do it. I mean, if you…don't mind. I can fly."

"Fly well?" Huyang asked.

"Anything," Shin confirmed.

Sabine laughed. "I can definitely vouch for that. We barely escaped you last time you flew something. Only because Ahsoka distracted you did we make it out alive."

Shin half wondered what had happened to her starfighter—Elsbeth had said she had taken it to get repairs done, and Shin had never seen it again.

"You think Luke Skywalker will let a Sith near his new Temple?" Huyang asked.

"I'm not a Sith," Shin muttered irritably, "and he might not. If he doesn't, I'll take the T-6 and leave you there with him. I'll become a bounty hunter or something. Or just go back to mercenary work, because that clearly turned out well for me," Shin scoffed dryly.

"Yeah…not the best idea," Sabine laughed.

He had better accept you into that Temple, Phantom said ominously, cracking open a yellow eye, or I will rip him apart, poop in his boots, and hide his saber in my litter box. Besides, I have always wanted to rule something, and the Jedi Temple seems like a great place to start.

When they arrived on Lothal, Hera, Zeb, and Chopper reluctantly departed from Jacen, making him promise to behave himself.

Shin saw his fingers crossed behind his back.

Sabine, Ezra, and Jacen walked towards the Command Tower, and Shin couldn't help but wonder when she'd see them all again. Maybe fighting Thrawn, once he came out of hiding. Maybe they'd visit her, maybe she'd visit them, maybe they'd need her for something someday.

She didn't mind.

As she climbed into the T-6, Phantom playing with one of the levers on the dashboard (while simultaneously plotting his revenge on the porgs in the vents) and Huyang going on about something in the old Jedi Order, Shin felt a wonderful sense of freedom.

She took a breath as they took off into hyperspace, knowing that the Ghost was with her friends, the T-6 was with her, and The Eye of Sion was with the New Republic, she knew flying wasn't an issue.

She knew her friends were safe—kriff, the fact that she had friends at all felt like a miracle.

Shin wondered, for a split second, what Baylan would think of who she was now.

She didn't care anymore—she was free.

That was what mattered.

Phantom curled happily in her lap, muttering under his breath about evil takeovers of sandwich shops. Huyang was dragging on about protocol.

Suddenly?

Shin realized something.

She was home.

And that was the best part.

It's…over. :( *continues sobbing*.
Phantom Ties is coming, though.
Promise.
It's set at the Temple—Shin, Phantom, the whole crew.
And…ya'll are going to hate me. But I removed Mara Jade from existence, so it's slightly AU.
I know, I know.
Mara Jade is great.
I like her.
Don't get me wrong.
It was just necessary.
You'll see.
*evil laughs like Phantom*
Also, did you all see that Ahsoka Season 2 is coming?
I'm so excited!
AND WE GET LOTH KITTENS!
AND THEY ARE ADORABLE!
(I now regret not writing some!)