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anakinisvaderisanakin · 3 years

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Even Stars Burn Out

As he enters the Jedi temple, reinvigorated by a new, unspeakable purpose - Anakin Skywalker feels nothing.

There are no thoughts in regards to the countless lives he is about to snuff out in his mind. There are no feelings of remorse or hesitation in his heart. He has already decided, he has already weighed the lives of his former fellow Jedi against Padmé’s. It was never a contest, there was never any question as to whose life mattered more. Anakin keeps his lightsaber in his hand, his loyal 501st battalion have his back. Order 66 is nigh, the termination of each and every Jedi the rule which he must obey.

Do the Jedi deserve such a grim fate? Anakin thinks being part of the order, a constitution that has molded and used him for years, is crueller.

Do they deserve to die? Anakin thinks death will bring relief, as the misled become one with the Force.

He strikes down the first meager padawan, and still he feels nothing. No guilt, no remorse. Only anger.

His rage burns red hot, his hatred thrumming like the rhythm of a drum within his chest. The pounding of his heart is the only beat he follows, as he strikes down another familiar face. And another. And another. Until the faces all blend into one, until blaster fire and the buzz of clashing plasma blades overpower his senses.

They fall. They all fall.

Anakin is powerful, he has always been powerful. Talented, the Force syphoned within his very cells so much more than that of his peers. He has less training, yet he outmatches each and every one of them. Master Cin Drallig proves to be some competition, but even he must fall at the swipe of Anakin’s blue saber.

Master Jurokk stands no chance.

Shaak Ti is caught meditating, unaware of the one time hero of the Republic coming to end her life. Anakin stabs her in the back, and she slumps limp to the side as her light burns out. Anakin keeps no count, he has no idea how many bright eyed young men and women he has struck down. They seem to him like spider-roaches; like an endless flood of vermin pouring from each and every entrance like spider-roaches from a damp crack in the wall. He deals with them with the same dissociation, with the same emotional dissonance. His master's words echo in his head; his praise and his promises. The Sith Lord will aid Anakin in his crusade to save Padmé, and Anakin is desperate.

The hall seems serene, a clean slate save for the heaps of fresh bodies stacked along the ornate stone floors. Their hollow eyes stare at Anakin, locked in horror and what he feels might be accusatory glares. They will judge him, and he accepts that fate. Their thoughts of him matter little.

Anakin closes his eyes, senses further life forms. Senses Force signatures that are unstable; some weak, some fluctuating. Some reeking of fear and confusion. Youthful. He knows what must be done.

Only now, does Anakin take a moment to weigh his options. Only now, for a brief second in which clarity finds him, does he stutter. The moment passes, almost as casually brushed aside as if the doubt was naught but thin air. He ascends the grand stairway, makes a well aimed leap to the second suspended level. The pale, tear stricken faces of the hidden younglings greet him as he enters the juvenile training hall. They have hidden behind the scarce furniture provided. Anakin senses their terror, and he tries to relish it. He takes a deep breath, steadies his trembling hands.

Do these children deserve to die? Anakin knows they will be hunted relentlessly by the clones, and by his master, should they be left alive. Him killing them is a blessing, it's a mercy that he will take such pity on them.

Sors Bandeam approaches, the blonde boy barely even a toddler. He speaks, but Anakin hears none of it. He shuts out the hushed whispers and murmurs, and acts. He thinks of Padmé, of the child she is carrying. He tries not to picture the face of his daughter or son in the place of the younglings' as he strikes them down. Padmé must live, nothing else matters. These younglings would have grown to develop the same traitorous, poisonous views as the Jedi council. They are merely the next generation. His master asked him to spare none, and Anakin obeys. He will always obey.

When it is done, he doesn’t linger. He doesn’t dwell upon his heinous crime. He exits the chamber, leaving the children as they lie. Helpless, hapless, innocent and forever suspended in time. They shall never age, they shall never reach adolescence. They have found peace.

When Anakin exits the smoldering Jedi temple, there are no survivors. Thick black smoke billows out of the giant construction, his trusty platoon of clone troopers left behind to guard the tattered remains of what was once Anakin’s home away from home.

Bodies litter the exterior stairway. Anakin steps over them with little reverence. He smells only the ashy, pungent stench of death and embers.

He thinks he can sense Padmé’s distress from afar. Something in him tells him to go to her; to reassure her, to feed her any lies necessary in order to soothe her pain and fear. She is distraught, as he comes to her. He is disheveled, still numb and empty and hollow inside. He thinks only of her, as he kisses her lips and strokes her cheek, and offers her what he hopes is an affectionate smile. She is unconvinced, fretful, and he cannot stop her wandering thoughts. He tries, he explains what little he can. He has further duties, his master expects him to follow through with his mission. He can’t stay, despite her pleas.

The flight to Mustafar is quiet, solemn, and stifling. Anakin blocks out his barrading thoughts, thinking only of Padmé’s beautiful but sad face. He thinks of her swollen belly, thinks of the baby kicking as he presses his palm to its curve. He does this for her, for their child. For them. Only them. Only her. He lands, resolute. The separatists must fall, like Count Dooku before them. The war must end, a new era is about to dawn.

The heat of the lava planet is pressing, sweat pouring down Anakin’s furrowed brow. His reception party is confused, and he smirks at them. He quips, voice dry with sarcasm as he adds two more lives to his conscience. He is focused, clear headed and determined. His strides are fast, and the Neimoidian viceroy Nute Gunray of the Trading Federation appears bemusingly shocked as Anakin interrupts the meeting. Whatever his master promised Gunray was a lie, and the viceroy realizes this. Anakin hates Gunray, he hates the Trading Federation, he hates everything they stand for. That unbridled hatred feeds his rage, and steers his saber.

If Anakin felt nothing killing his fellow Jedi, he feels even less slaughtering the ring leaders of the faction he has spent years of his life battling. War has changed him, desensitized him and he slices through their hideous bodies like butter. Like paper, they rip and tear and break. Gunray pleads for his life, and if Anakin were a cruller man he might have relished in it. Instead, he finishes the job.

An eerie silence once more overpowers him, as he reports to his master. The now Emperor Palpatine praises him, but the compliments ring hollow. They are meaningless, and Anakin knows this. He accepts this as par for the course. His master has never been honest, and deep down, Anakin has always known this.

Still, the solitude is claustrophobic. The walls seem to be closing in.

Anakin finds himself desperate to move anywhere at all. He paces the room, avoids making eye contact with the dead as they glower at him - mocking him, just as the fallen Jedi had. The balcony suspended sixty feet above the rivers of scalding lava below becomes his refuge. He fixes his eyes upon the mesmerizing molten rock; yellows, browns, reds and oranges capturing his attention. The river twists and warps into random shapes and patterns, and its roar seems to bring to mind cries of agony and misery.

Anakin shakes his head, the anger dissipating bit by bit. In its wake, there is pain. Clawing at his insides, clutching at his heart. Padmé must live, he thinks. Nothing else matters. But Anakin knows he can never go back. The moment he agreed to aid his master's vicious scheme, he was lost. The stricken faces of the younglings flash before his eyes; little Sors' big blue eyes full of admiration. Expecting to be saved, to be taken away and kept safe by one of the biggest heroes of the Republic. Instead, his frail body now lies cold and lonely lightyears away.

What might Padmé think, if she knew?

What might Padmé say, if he ever told her?

Anakin’s hands tremble, and he wraps his arms around himself to still their treachery. The Sith yellow of his eyes, a sickly hue that had overtaken them as he allowed darkness to engulf his being, fades. It is the last time it will ever fade.

Pale blue eyes regard the lava river, even as they are clouded with tears. Anakin thinks of his mother. He thinks of her kindness, her love, and her demise. He thinks of how heavy her withered body felt in his arms as he brought it home, thinks of how he failed her. He will not fail Padmé. He will not bury Padmé.

There is guilt now.

Guilt so raw, so blunt, so immense that it tears Anakin’s heart in two. He feels conflicted. He feels lost. He feels alone, and afraid, and disgusted. He feels hurt, and used, and enraged. He feels small, and helpless. He feels powerful, and untouchable. He weeps, and he allows himself to mourn the Jedi. He weeps for them, and for himself.

Cin Drallig.

Shaak Ti.

Jurokk.

Sors Beam.

Anakin will forget them, eventually. Their features will fade, as his memories disappear into oblivion. Only Padmé remains a beacon of hope, only Padmé can save him now. Anakin cries, and he sheds a piece of himself with each scalding tear. He cries, and he willfully suppresses the disappointed, horrified faces that comes to mind.

Mother.

Qui-Gon.

Yoda.

Windu.

Ahsoka.

Obi-Wan.

Padmé.

Anakin dries his tears, holds his head high. There is no use in weeping over what has been done. His future lies ahead, bright and open wide. He forces himself to believe in this mantra, forces himself to discard rationality and reason. What else can he do?

Then he loses everything.

He loses the battle. He loses his limbs. He loses his sight, his hearing, his voice, his soul. He loses Padmé.

And for what? What was his sacrifice all for?

Master was right, it is ironic. Anakin never betrayed the Jedi for Padmé. He did it for himself, and he loathes himself for it. Anakin is alone, locked in a prison of his own making. Anakin is but scraps of the man he used to be; a traitor, a coward and a monster. He suppresses himself, relying solely upon his hatred. There is an endless supply of that, now. He is despicable, and thus, there will forever be a steady stream of loathing to feed off of. He needs no one, he deserves no one.

Does Anakin deserve such a fate? Yes, his brain whispers. He deserves all of this, and more.

Does Anakin deserve to die? No, the same voice concludes. Death would be relief, a sweet blissful slumber to save him from his demons. He deserves no such relief, he must be punished and tormented.

Anakin killed Padmé, and this is his reward. He knows this. He accepts this. Anakin burns in his own flame, he has flown too close to the sun. He has snuffed it out by his own hand, and all he is left with is an endless night. All his fears have been realized. All his dreams have been crushed. He has done it himself.

Anakin feels nothing. He is a husk of a man, more cybernetics than living flesh. He has no autonomy left, he lives only to serve his master. He locks away his past, refuses to look at it, refuses to sifle through it. It brings only agony and suffering. He refuses to retread his steps, to reconsider his choices. If he did, the guilt would eat him alive. If he did, he would succumb to his own unbearable, irrefutable remorse.

Anakin Skywalker is consumed by regret. In his heart, he knows this.

Anakin Skywalker deserves no less.

***

You can probably tell I was very much inspired by Matthew Stover’s writing style in the RotS novelization, though much less poetic. I had fun however, and it was nice exploring a different style. Hope you enjoy it too! It’s an addition to The Mask of Death series on Ao3, link below.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/24049894/navigate

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monamourbladie-mb · 3 years

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19 Years Later... (Darth Vader x reader miniseries chapter 1)

19 years have passed since Y/n’s husband Anakin’s death, and she has become the leading General of the newly founded Rebellion alongside her past Jedi friend Obi-Wan Kenobi, now known as Ben Kenobi. When her children Luke and Leia Skywalker gets kidnapped by Darth Vader, the man who killed her husband; her and Obi-Wan Kenobi must come rescue her. But when she finds out who’s behind Darth Vader’s mask, the truth is something she never thought she had to prepare herself for.

——————

Index:

1. prologue

2. chapter 1

3. chapter 2 [Coming soon]

wc: 2.3k

warnings: cursing

——————

Being the leader of the new Rebellion against the evil Galactic Empire had its perks. One of the things that was not a perk, however, was hiding one’s actual name from their people, and past.

None of Y/n’s rebels knew of her past as a former Jedi Knight that fought in the Clone Wars. Though she fought like a cunning warrior, the thought had never once crossed their minds, seeing as all the Jedi were dead.

She had raised her children Luke and Leia with Obi-Wan’s guidance to be trained as Jedi, seeing as both of them were very Force-Sensitive.

Watching Luke wield his father’s lightsaber brought such bittersweet feelings to both old Jedi Knights. Anakin was such a big part of both of their lives, that it was almost painful to see this without him there.

Anakin would be beyond proud of his son and daughter, for sure.

Y/n recalled the first time he and Leia held their lightsabers. They were both 9, the same age their Father was when he was brought him by Qui-Gon Jyn from Tattooine.

Luke had rushed up to Obi’s old trunk excitedly, admiring the strange silver object with big eyes as Leia crowded behind him, “What’s that, Uncle Obi?”

“This is your father’s lightsaber, my dear. He would’ve wanted you to have it,” Obi replied, a sad smile on his face as he held onto the hilt, activating its stellar blue glow.

“This is the weapon of a Jedi Knight. Not as clumsy or random as a blaster—“ Obi handed it to Luke and his eyes widened, waving it around gently so he didn’t break it. “—an elegant weapon for a more civilized age.”

“Is it mine?” Luke’s eyes beamed in excitement. Obi-Wan nodded, sitting down as he picked up Leia, putting her on his knee.

“For over a thousand generations, the Jedi were the guardians of peace and justice. The old republic. Before the Empire...” he trailed off, turning his head towards the window.

Y/n rushed into the room, hearing the lightsaber and fearing there was an intruder, “Obi-Wan! What’s going on, I’m—“ she ignited her brilliant (l/c) saber, holding it in a protective stance before she realized it was just Luke. She sighed heavily and disengaged her saber, attaching it back to her belt loop, “Obi, you didn’t tell me you were doing this now...” she crossed her arms.

“Mom! Obi-Wan told me this was Dad’s! Look!” he started swinging it gently, making sure it didn’t hit anyone since he knew how deadly they could be. She began to smile sadly as she remembered a young Anakin as a padawan, rushing in to show her his lightsaber he constructed the day he finally got one.

She smiled sadly, tears welling up in her eyes. “You look so much like your father, Luke,” she said sadly. Obi looked back at Luke, and for a split moment, he was reminded of the small slave his old master brought back with him. He smiled to himself remembering how he helped Anakin with his padawan braid.

“Princess, come here. I’ll let you hold my lightsaber, okay?” she handed Leia her saber gently, and she took gingerly from her hand. Leia took it and igniting it, the blade’s glow reflecting in her excited little eyes.

“Mom? How did dad die? You never answered me,” Luke asked. Y/n felt herself freeze in place, a large lump in her throat forming. “Luke, I...”

“I’ll tell them, Y/n,” Obi-Wan replied solemnly. “Your father was killed by a young Jedi named Darth Vader. He was a close friend of mine before he fell. He helped the Emperor hunt down and destroy the Jedi Knights. He betrayed and murdered your father.” The room fell silent, until Luke asked another question, “So you and Uncle Obi are the last remaining Jedi?”

Obi-Wan shook his head no, “There are others, but sparse. To name a few, Master Yoda and Ahsoka Tano, your father’s Padawan learner. The last remaining Jedi are being hunted down by Vader, which is why we hide.”

Leia spoke up softly, “Is that why we don’t use our actual last name, mommy?”

“Yes, sweetheart. As long as Vader’s reign continues, we must hide our names. Darth Vader does not know about the two of you, so you are safe. For us, on the other hand...” she trailed off, and the kids understood.

“Mom... Mom,” Leia spoke loudly. Y/n blinked in confusion and turned back around, looking at her daughter, “Yeah, my love?”

“Are you okay mom?” Leia asked, frowning. “We need to look at the Death Star plans.”

“Right,” she sighed heavily, turning to face from the window out looking Yavin 4. “I’m fine, princess. I just... was remembering Anakin, that’s all.” Leia sighed and laid her hand on her mother’s back, rubbing it gently, “Dad would be proud of everything you’ve done, mom.” She began to tear up as she pulled Leia into a tight hug, “I hope so. It’s been about 20 years and it still doesn’t feel right,” silent tears fell down her cheeks into her daughter’s bunned hair.

“I’m proud of you, Leia. If you were to be trained within the Order now, you’d be the same age your father was when he became a Jedi Knight, and when he married me...” she sniffled, wiping her tears. Leia smiled softly, holding her mom’s hand, “Do you think he’d be proud of me, too?”

“I know he would,” she rubbed her fingertips against hers, “He would pull you into the tightest hug, spin you a little and say softly, ‘That’s my baby girl,’” she replied, her voice cracking slightly. Leia began to tear up as she hugged her back, “I wish I knew him...” she said softly. “I wish so too, babe, so bad...” Y/n sighed. But I won’t let his memory be in vain. Let’s go look at these plans and destroy that Death Star, yeah?”

Leia and Y/n walked to the main board room, seeing how the map was already up on display. “General Jonas, we’ve been examining the Death Star plans. They’re on screen now,” one of her commanding officers recited. “Good, thank you, officer. Have we discovered a weak point yet? Or at least some form of entry point?”

“No, ma’am. We haven’t studied long enough. There are many ways in, but all most likely heavily guarded. We will have to find a way to go under the radar without getting detected, somehow,” he replied. She nodded, walking closer to examine it. She closed her eyes and felt out through the Force for some answer. No surprise to her, she could barely feel anything at all but an empty void. Ever since Anakin had died, she had felt more distanced from the Force than ever. Maybe she and Anakin possessed a rare Dyad, or maybe she had simply lost touch with the Force; but no matter what she did, she was nowhere near as powerful in the Force as she used to be.

“Alert me if you find anything, Officer, I would love to have this Death Star in shambles by the end of the month,” Y/n left to walk out and to ask Obi-Wan on the matter. “Yes, ma’am,” he responded, turning back to his computer to get back to work.

Elsewhere, Leia was pacing in Luke’s room, grumbling to herself, “I know Obi-Wan has taught us to not let our emotions guide us, but I can’t when it comes to him. He killed our father, he should be dead!” Leia huffed in anger, collapsing down onto her twin’s bed.

Luke grunted in response, his mouth full of food still, “It’s not like you can take him on yourself. You’d die!” he said, or at least, sounded like he said. “I will not let the lives of those lost who got us the plans in the first place’s memories die. We wouldn’t be this close to planning an attack without their sacrifices. Moreover, Mom has had these plans for two days now, and she hasn’t done a single thing about it!” Leia responded quickly. Luke shrugged, “Leia. Be real. It’s not like we can steal a ship and fly to the Death Star, find it’s a weak point, and get back in time for dinner.”

Leia sat up, looking at Luke as if he had just committed mass murder. “...What?” Luke asked warily. Leia grinned, “That’s it! We’ll do just that, Luke! We’ll take one of mom’s ships, fly around the death star undetected and find weak entry points, and get back like we were never even gone!”

“Leia, you can not be serious right now!” Luke gasped, setting his food down, “We can’t do this, we could get in so much trouble! Or spotted!”

“Do you want to sit idly while our mother and uncle do nothing, whereas our Father’s murderer is out on the lose on that moon!” Leia snapped at him. He narrowed his eyes, “That’s no moon, Leia. Also, no, I don’t! But do we have a choice? No. We’re staying here.”

“No, we’re leaving. Whether I go alone is up to you entirely, but at this point, I just want the man who killed my father dead,” Leia said, glaring at him. Luke huffed, “You think I don’t want him dead, too? But we are children, we literally can’t do anything!”

“We are 19 years old and I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to sit at home here and wait for Vader to kill more innocent people,” Leia frowned, crossing her arms. “I really need you with me, Luke. But I get it if you don’t go.” she stood up, grabbing her stuff to leave when Luke grumbled “Wait!” under his breath. “I’ll... go. Just to protect you. But this is a bad idea, and I don’t want to get caught,” he raised a brow to her. Leia grinned and hugged Luke tightly, “Thank you, thank you! You won’t regret this! But bring your lightsaber maybe, just in case?”

——————

“What do you mean, YOU LET THEM GO?” Y/n snapped to C3-PO, enraged. Threepio raised his hands in defense, “I couldn’t stop them, mistress! I tried my best, I swear!”

“You let my children go confront Vader ALONE? You’re so lucky I don’t shut you down for that!” she growled, shoving past him with Obi-Wan following close behind her. “Oh, dear. I’m doomed,” Threepio whined.

“We have to go after them, we... I can’t... I can’t lose my kids,” Y/n said nervously, starting to pace once Obi got close. “Y/n, calm down sweetheart. I need you to breathe and think,” Obi said, holding onto her shoulders gently. “If we go, we have an equal chance of being caught since they’ll already be on high alert.”

She sighed heavily, shaking her head, “I hate you for being so levelheaded and smart, Obi,” she frowned. “That’s my specialty,” he winked. “Now, we need to stop and make sure that we can pull this rescue off without risking our lives, too.”

Meanwhile, at the Death Star, Vader was summoned by his leading captain because of an alert of an enemy ship flying nearby. “Bring them in, search them. They may know General Jonas.” “Yes, My Lord.”

Vader turned to leave the bridge towards the docking bay, to meet his guests personally. As he walked, his mind was filled with visions and memories from his dream the night before. Of her.

He sighed heavily, picking up speed as he neared the docking bay. Passing a group of stormtroopers, he pushed past them to be in front, crossing his arms. The door opened, and two stormtroopers walked out holding a young girl and boy, yelling at them to let go of them.

As soon as Vader looked at the two, he felt something... strange. A certain presence in the Force he had never felt before. What is this? Why do they feel familiar?

Vader dropped his arms, walking forward and raising his hand to stop the troopers, “Who are you? And why were you near my Death Star?”

His unmerciful, robotic voice rumbled through their chests, terrifying them. In all their years, they had never seen something so cold and unforgiving. “Don’t be petrified, answer me if you want to live,” Vader challenged, staring right at the boy.

“You killed our father,” Leia’s voice was cold, sad, and broken. She knew this was a bad idea, but it was too late now. “I wanted revenge.”

“You’ll have to forgive me, my princess, but I’ve killed many men. Your father was just another tick on my list, whoever he may be.”

“You son of a—!” Luke yelled, rushing to jump at him when the stormtroopers all turned their weapons on him, making him stop. Vader growled, “Insolent children. I don’t think you know who I am, truly. I’d crush you in a heartbeat, but seeing as you could have something of use to me... take them away, both of them,” Vader commanded. The two shouted in disagreement, and Vader simply stood and watched them struggle.

“You bitch! You’ll pay for what you did to our dad!” Luke yelled as he was taken away. Vader rolled his eyes from under the mask and walked back to his quarters. He knelt on the floor, taking his mask off as he called out to his Emperor through the force.

“What do you want, Lord Vader?” Palpatine growled, looking down at Vader’s hologram. “I felt something through the Force a few moments ago. My new hostages... they seem to be strong with it.”

“Really? Are you sure, my apprentice?”

“Yes, Master. More sure than anything.”

“Well, you know what you must do. Kill them. They could be Jedi if they tried opposing you,” Palpatine smirked. “They’re only children, which means they’re newer Jedi. Someone had to have trained them.”

“Children never stopped you before, don’t let it stop you now. Do it.”

“...Yes, my Master.” Vader ended the holomessage, sighing.

“Who are you two...?” he asked himself, reaching out through the Force and feeling they were still there.

Strange.

——————

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val-aquenta · 3 years

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Here folks. Take an impromptu Mace centric fic as a token of my affections xD

Here on ao3

1. It takes 14 seconds to fall from the Chancellor’s office to the ground. Mace counts them slowly. Almost a meditation. Each second stretches for eternity, each centimetre passing with an agonizingly slow speed. Mace blinks and even that feels like it takes forever. Mace feels, well he really can’t feel his hand. His wrist, however, is another matter entirely. It throbs and throbs and does not stop. He supposes that soon he won’t have to worry about it.

2. Mace has time to feel betrayed. Feel the sting of anger and hurt for a moment before he is occupied by other things. He has known of a shatterpoint poised around Anakin, precariously on the point of breaking at any point. He had hoped that when it broke, the balance would be restored, but now… well the rise of the Sith is hardly balance. There is a moment of this anger, that Anakin could not have chosen better, did not deem balance important, but within moments it leaves him. He can do precious little now, weakened as he is, to stop his fall. He can only think about what he is about to leave.

3. He wonders how Depa is. Alone in the darkness of the world, struggling with her padawan, the newest member of their lineage. He wonders how young Caleb is. Whether the clones have befriended him, whether he has seen some interesting animal or tradition that he would have shared over tea next they met. He wishes, oh how he wishes, that he could see them one last time, could whisper his farewell to them, could press against their essence in the Force and feel them, feel his family, his daughter and her son.

4. Mace feels something twang, some kind of resignation from up above, from the office he has just been thrown out of. The dark, cold, oppressive feeling suffocated the surroundings. Young Skywalker, he realises, is truly stepping for the dark. He feels pain because that is where the path will end. With Anakin and all of Anakin’s friends in pain. The shatterpoint that has hovered over Anakin for all the man’s life breaks and shatters with an intensity he has only felt a few times before. Of course, it would be Anakin that aggravates the pain of his death in such a manner, he sardonically notes. However, the loneliness, the fear, the pain, and the resignation is painful to feel. Part of Mace feels bad for Anakin considering the path that he will walk on guarantees pain. He hopes that Anakin will turn from this path, but already he feels the strings of fate being drawn together as though this inevitability has been years in the making and is finally culminating in the man's fall.

5. The Force is dark. It has been darkening throughout the war, and even darkening before that. Slowly, but surely, using the Force to sense things had become akin to wading in a swamp through fog with nothing to provide light. True darkness had hidden within the despair, anger, and hate of the general populace, tired of the galactic war that sucked up resources. The war machine, fueled by uncaring individuals who had sought profit had pushed and pushed and pushed until it had taken up every thought. Until classrooms became war meeting rooms, and until the mosaics and gentle art of the Temple were chipped and left in disrepair as it simply became too expensive to keep clean and intact.

6. There is regret he feels for not having noticed what Palpatine was, what the man was capable of. He has never truly liked Palpatine. The man was a slimy politician like many others who somehow managed to put off a kind font for all his friends. The man has never done something like that for Mace, and Mace has always found the act somewhat manipulative. He spares an idle thought, wishing that the Zillo beast had somehow succeeded in eating the Sith. As a Jedi, he probably shouldn’t entertain such thoughts, but Palpatine is a sith lord who has orchestrated a galactic war. He hopes the Force will cut him some slack.

7. Obi-Wan. His friend. What devastation the man will feel. He has lost his Grandmaster to the clutches of the dark, lost his own Master to a Sith monster from his nightmares, lost his Grandpadawan to the greedy clutches of the Senate and the war, and now he will lose his own Padawan to the darkness. He wishes he could comfort his friend the way he had done after Qui-Gon’s death. Mace hopes his death will not hurt so much, but he knows Obi-Wan takes it very personally when someone he loves dies. He… he wishes he could also meet with Obi-Wan, wishes he could bring some joy, some calm, something positive to the man who will no doubt feel the most devastating feeling of loss when he realises his family has torn itself apart, has hurt each other in such a horrid way.

8. The Jedi in the Temple. There are so few, most of the older ones scattered throughout the galaxy, but he fears for the younger ones. With Anakin, himself, Kit, Saesee, and Agen gone, most of the defences in the Temple are gone. Now only the youngest of padawans, the younglings and the oldest members of their order remain. He knows, feels it in his bones, that the Temple will be attacked. It is impossible for Palpatine not to have planned something ensuring the death of his family. He hopes that the younglings might escape, that the few Knights might keep those younger safe, that the recovering Jedi in the healing rooms escape. However, Mace has always been logical. The best he can probably hope for is a quick painless death for the members of his family, one with as little pain as possible. Knowing Palpatine, the man who gladly played two sides of a galactic war, he knows that it won’t be so. His family will suffer more than just a quick death, they will suffer and he… he finds he hates the idea of it. What he would give to save them. He would die for them. Would take all their pain to save them. His family, the warmth he has always known will disappear, this he knows.

9. His lightsaber is falling too. Ahead of him. The crystal which has been by his side always is mourning with him, feeling the and echoing his betrayal, winking brightly just like he is before Mace dies. One hand stretches out and calls the blade to him. If he was to feel one last thing in his life, his lightsaber and the warmth from it would be high there. His intact hand grasps the blade and clutches it close, looking for that warmth, that light that he has had by his side since his childhood. The crystal hums on his level, reflecting joy at being united with him, sadness at the coming doom. His faithful friend has been by his side through many dangers but now is the end. He recalls the first time he picked it up, surrounded by darkness and cold and ice the crystal had sat, glowing and colourless. The blade had been purple, much to the surprise and delight of both himself and his family. Sure, he had tweaked the hilt as he had grown, but the crystal had remained the same. He reached out for it and let its calm force envelop him one last time, letting the light peace wash over him moments before his death.

10. Time seems to blur. He sees the past melding with the present. The future seems to push back and reaches him in strange visions, flickers across his vision. There are ghost feelings of something entirely alien drifting across his mind. The future, he realises with a quiet gasp, reaching back and showing him small flickers of it. Mace accepts it quietly. He accepts the flickers of death, destruction, and terrible darkness as they fall across his vision. He sees the lone figures of light as they leap across an indifferent galaxy, attempting to fight the suffocating darkness. There is a shadow of a togruta, old and unfamiliar with blades of pure light against one red and black shadow flickering across his vision, followed by a robes figure facing off a dark machine, a strange imprint of betrayal and sadness. Another shadow of green and red blades against each other followed by a sky of flickering light, illuminated by lightning. More and more visions flicker across his vision and finally a balance. He feels relief keenly as the light stretches past the few points it was reduced to. In the end, balance will prevail, he knows, and he rests easy with that knowledge.

11. His clones, he wonders, will be sad when they find out he is dead. He has somehow gained their respect and admiration. With that, as he and his colleagues had quickly found, came a need front he clones to keep them safe. Through many battles, Ponds watched his back, offered advice, and shared his pain. In turn, he has done the same, but it always feels like it is not enough. For all that he loves his troops, he can not save them from the Republic’s scorn and the Senate’s indifference. He has tried to save them, tried to keep the other military leaders from recklessly using the clones as a battering ram against the Separatists, disregarding the lives they will lose, but still he ends up with dead men. Ponds. He wishes… something. He wishes he could have said goodbye. Told him he wished he could have done more, could have saved more men. But, the time for that has passed and he cannot save them or comfort them. He only hopes that they will be safe and healthy and happy in the wake of his death. That someone will step up to take care of them.

12. His family… the Jedi… He can feel them dying. Something is… something is killing them. Someone is killing them. He has failed. Failed to protect them. Failed to save them. Their pain rips through the Force as they are killed, betrayal, pain, and anguish suffocating the Force. No! He feels his bonds, some of which have been in place since childhood, be ripped mercilessly from him. Depa’s still glows bright, alive, but there is something painful growing around her. It feels as though the end is coming soon, both for him but also for her. Lights flicker and are put out mercilessly. From the old elder Jedi who had been a mentor in the past to the young Rodian child he had comforted two weeks ago. They burn brightly, like stars, and then disappear, cementing darkness in the universe.

13. Mace Windu, moments before his death, sees something. He’s always seen things. Breaking points in people, situations, and things. He’s grown up with them. Now, in the seconds before he hits the ground at breakneck speed, he sees something different. An impossible possibility. The culmination of a billion small things resulting in the perfect world. So out of reach, so… impossible. It flashes for just a moment, blinking for an eternity. He observes it, observes the choices, observes the outcomes, the unfolding of events. It is almost as though he experiences it, almost like he lives through it, but not quite. This ‘what if,’ this best-case scenario, is an imagination. Nothing he can do will bring it to truth, and yet still Mace wishes.

14. Fourteen seconds. Mace Windu fell from a window fourteen seconds ago. For fourteen seconds he has fallen down the side of the building. Now, he hits the ground as darkness swallows the universe. It seems almost fitting that he would die the moment the Jedi are about to die and the universe is about to be swallowed by darkness. Mace closes his eyes a fraction of a second before he hits the ground at breakneck speed, the rapid speed of descent slowing abruptly in a split second. With the end of his fall, Mace Windu's life ends too.

15. Mace wakes in the light which he has chosen. The light which he has always chosen and which he will always choose. The dark of the world is behind him. Ahead, only light, warmth, and happiness remains. Each step into the warmth, leaving the dark world he’s lived in, is like coming home. He takes each step until he isn’t Mace anymore, not really. He is the light, he is the Force. Mace sighs and finally, he releases himself into the Force, into home. A thousand troubles, hundreds of sleepless, millions of deaths, countless memories of pain fade away until Mace is unburdened. Mace breathes in slowly, meditatively, and he steps into the light. As darkness falls, Mace steps into the light. And so ends Mace Windu.

#star wars fanfic #fanfiction #star wars #mace windu #mace windu appreciation #obi wan kenobi #depa billaba #pro jedi #jedi appreciation #pro jedi fic #duna writes

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lightdancer1 · 2 years

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One thing to always keep in mind with any version of Ursa in my stories:

She is a complex fully rounded character who in an Azula-centric story is almost always an antagonist (she moves into villain territory in the Dragon-verse and in the Fire Lord Ursa AU but in the former case it's not a role directed at Azula personally and this plays deliberately with the protagonist-centered morality of the original setting). This is because Azula very clearly did want to be loved by Ursa, and very clearly in each AU save the Fire Sage one never was and didn't actually know what love was supposed to look like until she left the toxic environment she was exposed to.

She is not, however, a character defined by her relationship to her children. She has a full history and life of her own before she gets drawn by Azulon into the tangled web of conquest and family dysfunction that is the House of Sozin and equal complexity after she has them.

Her children might not perceive this any more than most children do about their own parents. Katara and Sokka don't exactly figure this out about Hakoda, let alone Kya (though Kya being horribly murdered in front of Katara rather does have a lot to do with that for Katara) for a very long time as well. But it is true all the same.

Ursa's own arcs are defined by her pre-existing hate and anger and resentment of her own circumstances....and the awareness that her Firebending is predisposed to combat, to destruction, and in combat to being an instantantaneous kill if she used it on the human body. She can literally slice and dice with the equivalent of lightsaber beams that cut clean through steel and do horrible things to human flesh.

In some ways it works to give her a view of her own Firebending not entirely dissimilar to that of Jeong Jeong but with far better reason for it, as even if she did switch to a new source her Firebending *still* has that aspect, because that's what she chooses to see in it and how it could be wielded.

And then when she has her first daughter that child begins to develop uniquely colored fires of her own and even the earlier versions had sui generis properties that didn't work quite like other Firebending did before the color-change and she has this horrifying vision that her adult children could end up reliving her own life....and quietly sets out to protect her child from phantoms she projected onto them and thereby blows up a relationship thinking she's literally doing a good and necessary thing.

Which is why the relationship is that of the antagonist, not the villain. It's not merely the 'everyone is a hero in their own story' factor, Ursa sincerely thinks she's sparing Azula a horrible fate and that Azula is too young to understand but would understand and accept when she's older. Her motives, in terms of her emotions, really are good ones and grounded in the harsh realities of her own life. The not so minor context problems Ursa ignores is that her daughter isn't living her life and that she's coming across as a stifling emotionally abusive figure to whom even Ozai, who never bothers to hide malice and abusiveness of both emotional and physical kinds to everyone in his family, is at least willing to manipulate by crumbs of phantom approval.

It creates a vicious circle that only gets broken if one, the other, or both get taken out of the environment that shapes it and then, finally, both of them start to realize that 'wait, what the Hell?' and then go on from there.

And for Zuko and Azula, their lives thus incorporate mirror abuse cycles, albeit the Ozai-centric version physically abuses both of them and the golden child brand of emotional abuse afflicted both Zuko and Azula from different parents. There's far more similarity with Azula and Zuko as children than either are ready to admit for a long time, though where they have their healthiest relationships they do.

#atla aus #ursa #ursa is a fully complex person #she is the antagonist of an Azula story #she is only a villain in the Dragon-verse because she's part of an imperialist faction making a bid for the throne #and in the Fire Lord Ursa AU because well it's a Fire Lord Ursa AU what the Hell do you think the reason is?#otherwise she's an antagonist and their healing or accepting things are permanently broken is part of 'growing up sucks'#which is a big theme of the Azula-centric stories #Ursa is less of an antagonist in an Azula-as-hero story than Azula is to Zuko in canon #because Azula is smart enough to know her mother was abused too #and to not try to wear herself to the bone for love she should never have had to earn #while Ursa either fixes things or she doesn't

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queenofspades6 · 4 years

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More than partners (The Mandalorian x reader)

Sorgan

Chapter 9 of More than partners

Summary: The Mandalorian finally admits his feelings for you.

Warnings: extreme fluff. Jealous reader. And Cara Dune teases reader about her relationship with Mando.

AN: Last week I didn’t have much time to write another chapter so this week I decided to write a long long long chapter! I hope you will enjoy it! And forgive me for not posting this chapter sooner! Enjoy! Feedback is also appreciated! Tell me if you want to be tagged!

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***

You had landed on Sorgan with Mando and the Child hours ago, and you began to feel worried when the Mandalorian wasn’t going back. You were staying in your cabin in the Razor Crest, the Child sleeping peacefully in your arms while you waited for Mando. Desperately, you tried to stay awake to greet him when he came back, but you felt your eyes closing slowly and you couldn’t fight sleep.

***

“Y/N. Y/N. Wake up. We need to go.”

A familiar hand was on your shoulder, and you supposed the Mandalorian was finally back of his little trip alone.

“Mando. You’re late.”You said, stretching yourself slowly while watching the Child circling around the bounty hunter.

“We have a bounty. We need to go.”He only whispered, not giving you any further explanation.

It was the middle of the night, and you didn’t understand why suddenly the Mandalorian wanted to chase a bounty tonight? Why couldn’t he wait tomorrow morning?

“But… We’re in the middle of the night. It can wait tomorrow.”You claimed, slowly laying back to your couch.

“You wanted me to find a bounty. I have find one.”

Groaning, you stood up, following the Mandalorian outside. The Child followed your steps quickly, as a chick would do with his mother.

You got off the ship quickly, but at your greatest surprise, you didn’t expect anyone else than Mando waiting for you.

A strong woman was talking with the Mandalorian. You took a minute to examine her. She had a lot of tattoos, and one caught your attention particularly. She had a tattoo under her left eye, an obvious sign that she was or had been part of the Rebel Alliance. Instantly, you knew you would like her. It was brave to have such a visible tattoo in the midst of a war, clearly making her an easy target for her enemies.

“Y/N.”You heard Mando say with his modulated voice, finally breaking your thoughts.

“What?”You replied, your eyes still fixed on this mysterious woman.

“Cara Dune was talking to you and-”

“It’s nothing.”The woman named Cara Dune answered a genuine and fierce smile on her face.”Name’s Cara Dune. I suppose you’re Y/N.”

“Hmm. Right. That’s me.”

You smiled awkwardly. You hated when the Mandalorian was treating you like a Child. During the previous days, you clearly were closer to Mando, but suddenly, he was distant. Was it because of this Cara Dune?

You couldn’t be jealous because you decided instantly that you liked Cara. She seemed a good fighter, and you could swear she was or had been part of the same Guild as the Mandalorian.

“Ready to sleep in a pile of straw?”Cara Dune questioned, smirking.

“Always. I need to take care of that tin can there.”You said, still a bit angry with the way Mando has introduced you to Cara.

The Mandalorian was the first to climb into the cart, and then he gestured you to sit next to him. The Child in your arms, you completely ignored Mando and sat close to Cara Dune. You put the Child in the straw of the cart and embraced him with your arms to protect him. It had only been weeks, and yet you cared deeply for the Child as if he was your own. Maybe it was because he looked a bit too much like your old Master, you thought.

Then, you closed your eyes and tried to sleep.

“She’s tough, I like her.” Cara told the Mandalorian, gesturing to where you were sleeping.

Even though you were supposed to sleep, you couldn’t suppress the smile which was slowly appearing on the corner of your lips. You heard Mando groan, and you gazed at him quickly hoping he wouldn’t notice. He was laying on the straw, the helmet’s visor in your direction. You didn’t know why, but you knew he was silently watching you through his helmet.

You wanted to go to him and sleep on his shoulder with the Child sleeping between the two of you, but you were stubborn and a bit resentful, so you just looked away, trying to sleep without the man you loved..

***

It was morning and you had finally arrive to the farm. Children were laughing and playing in the fields. Seeing them so happy made your heart ache. Jedi or not, you wanted a family.

“I am Omera. It is so nice to meet you.”

The Mandalorian didn’t let you reply, he began to introduce you to the woman, as it you couldn’t do it yourself. You shrugged.

“I will show you where you will sleep. Follow me, please.”Omera declared, looking a bit too long at Mando.

Omera showed you the barn where you would sleep with the Mandalorian and the Child.

“I assumed the two of you would want to spend the night in the same room.”She muttered.

“Oh no! No, we are not together.”You interrupted her at your own regret.

When you saw her turn her face away and grin, you felt anger rising in your body. You knew that Omera had set her eyes on the Mandalorian, but didn’t Mando tell you you were his the other day? Was it all a lie?

“I hope this will be comfortable for you. Sorry that all we have is the barn.”Omera uttered, giving you blankets for the night.

“This will do fine.”The Mandalorian answered, glancing at the two cots while Omera was staring at him insistently.

Even though Mando was wearing his helmet, you knew when he was kind with someone. And here, he were clearly too kind with this woman that just give him a barn to sleep. You frowned, you didn’t want to spend another second with him and Omera, it was making you sick.

“I am going to check on the Child.”You murmured, leaving them finally alone.

Spotting the Child with the other children, you took a chair and sat, observing them at a convenable distance.

“Can I sit here?”

You gazed at the person talking. It was Cara.

You nodded absently.

“You okay?”She asked, using the back of her chair as an armrest.

“Yes, yes. Mando is talking with Omera.”

“I see.”She whispered, smirking.

“What?”You frowned.

“So you and the Mandalorian, huh? You two are a thing?”

You looked away quickly hoping Cara didn’t see your cheeks flushing.

“Of course not. He is a Mandalorian.”You stated, your eyes glued to the ground.

“And?”

“I am a Jedi, Cara. We can’t love.”

You didn’t expect Cara to break out of laugher.

“We can’t love.”You repeated, hoping this time she would explain what was so funny.

“You can’t, but that doesn’t mean you don’t.”

You huffed and looked away. She patted your shoulder in a friendly way and muttered.

“Good luck.”

And then, she left you alone. You smiled to yourself. You definitely loved that ex-shock trooper.

***

When you came back with the Child in your arms. Omera and her daughter were still in your so called room. Omera had brought you your meals. You put the Child in front of his plate and waited for him to eat.

“Can I feed him?”Winta questioned, glancing at the Mandalorian and then at you.

“Sure.”You and Mando answered at the same time. You looked at him and saw his gaze was on Omera who was watching her daughter feed the Child. You clenched your fists tightly to control yourself.

“Can I play with him?”Winta asked this time.

“Sure.”Mando replied.

You watched the Mandalorian take the Child in his arms softly, as if he had the most precious thing in his hands. He put him on the floor with Winta. She began to go outside, and when Mando realized Winta was going to take the Child with her, Mando couldn’t agree.

“I don’t think…”

“They’ll be fine.”Omera interrupted him, approaching him quickly.

“I don’t…”The Mandalorian continued.

“They’ll be fine.”Winta’s mother continued.

You saw her arm on Mando’s shoulder, and you wanted to initiate your lightsaber to fight, but you knew it wasn't the way of the Jedi. You were supposed to protect people not kill them because of your stupid jealousy. Maybe you weren’t fit to be a Jedi, maybe you would have been a better Sith, you told yourself.

“I brought you some food. I noticed you didn’t at out there. I’ll leave it there for when I go.”Omera declared, her eyes glowing with desire and love.

Omera took one step closer to the Mandalorian, and it was enough for you. You couldn’t just stare at them while they were talking as if you weren’t there.

“I am going for a walk.”You uttered, grabbing your lightsaber and heading for the exit of the barn.

“Y/N. Don’t go.” You heard the Mandalorian say, yet you couldn't’ listen to him.

Not this time.

Loving him was hard enough, but seeing a woman flirting with him while he wasn’t doing anything, it hurt you. It reopened old wounds. Wounds you thought were healed years ago when you had become a Jedi. When you were younger, you had many fears. You knew you wanted to become a Jedi, but you didn’t think you had the strength to do it. You doubted yourself, and you thought you didn’t deserve the title of Jedi. But when Master Yoda spent months to train you, he helped you grow your confidence and your trust in him. And now, Omera was quickly digging up your biggest fear. The fear of never being enough.

You ran towards the forest, where nobody could see you and hear you scream. You needed to be alone.

“Why is it always so difficult?”You shouted, kicking a tree and throwing your lightsaber.

“Hey. Easy there. You can’t just throw that now.”

You startled. It was Cara. Again, you thought. She gave you your lightsaber back and fastened it to your belt. You let yourself fall on a tree, closing your eyes, and feeling the wind against your cheeks. You heard Cara doing the same.

“He cares about you.”Cara spitted not looking at you.

You turned to look at her, and she wasn’t lying.

“Obviously. I am the Child babysitter.”

“That’s not what I meant. He really cares about you, not just as a babysitter. Why do you think Omera believed you only needed one room?”

You chuckled, and she laughed too.

“That’s only a mistake.”You whispered between two laughs.

“That’s what you want to tell yourself, Y/N. He can’t be away from you too long.”

“Stop joking, Cara.”

You giggled.

You heard someone coming and you initiated your lightsaber, ready to kill whoever wanted to hurt you and Cara. You glanced at the ex-shock trooper. She was ready to attack too.

“Y/N! You’re safe. I thought something had happened.”

The Mandalorian was here, staring at you and then Cara.

“I told you so, Y/N.”Cara said, putting away her blaster.

“I am going back.”She said, leaving you and the Mandalorian alone.

Mando didn’t seem to care. He waited for you to walk with him.

“Come on. We’re heading back.”

You nodded.

“Are you alright, Y/N?”He questioned.

You didn’t reply. You kept walking silently.

“Y/N. Answer me. I know something is wrong.”

The Mandalorian suddenly faced you and put his hands on your shoulders, stopping you from walking further.

“Let me go.”

“Not until you tell me what’s wrong.”

You sighed and tried to fight Mando.

“You should go back to Omera.”You spitted, venom in your voice.”I am sure she’s looking for you.”

Mando paused, and then he understood. He finally understood why you were acting so distant and so angry.

“You’re jealous, aren’t you?”He asked.

“I am not! She is just flirting with you all the time, and you are letting her! That’s the worst! You avoid me all day, and suddenly when you need me, you’re looking for me. I am not just a toy you can use when you need it.”

“Y/N…”

“Don’t Y/N me! I am a Jedi and you’re just playing with me!”You cried, a single tear running on your cheek.

The Mandalorian slowly wiped your tear away with his gloved hand.

“I am not playing, Y/N. You’re a Jedi that’s why I am avoiding you.”He explained calmly, his hand still resting on your arm.

“You should have told me you hated the Jedi so much before bringing me with you.”

“I don’t hate the Jedi.”He uttered, staring at the ground as if he was ashamed of his behaviour.

“So what? You hate me?”You interrogated, clear hurt in your voice.

“No. I hate the fact that you are a Jedi and I am a Mandalorian! I am avoiding you because I know that I won’t be able to control myself when I am around you. I can’t control what I feel for you, Y/N, even if it’s against my Creed.”He declared, his breathing getting heavier.

He knew love was forbidden for him, and he couldn’t marry a Jedi. But he had been told what to do his whole life, and now he wanted to start a family with you and the Child more than anything.

“Is it true?”You questioned, taking a step back to protect yourself from his answer.

“Yes, Y/N. It’s the truth.”

Mando headed towards you and took your hands in his, slowly caressing the skin.

“I think I have feelings for you, Mando. I know we can’t, but I don’t care about the rules anymore. I only know that I want you and only you.”You murmured, enjoying the touch of his gloved hand against your skin.

“I want nothing more, Y/N.”

*****

⬇️chapter 10⬇️

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helbertinelli · 3 years

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A Different Hope

Chapter 5 - The End

Leia felt an overwhelming sense of fear grip her as she entered the throne room. She looked around at everything as she had never seen the room before. It was usually her father who had to deal with Palpatine and never her. Leia and Vader stopped by the stairs leading up to the throne. Leia was looking over at Vader, trying to follow his lead in case she had to do anything. She figured he most likely dealt with the Emperor before and he knew what it was expected to do.

"Ah Lord Vader and Princess Organa." Palpatine smiled as he was greeting them. "I gave you a job to do Lord Vader, but I found out you have not been very good to keep to it." The Emperor continued. Leia was switching from looking at Vader and at Palpatine. "Maybe you're overdue for another lesson." He added, his creepy smile still plastered on his face.

Despite being scared of the situation she was in, part of Leia felt good about Vader finally being in trouble for once. Even though it came from the wrong place, there were finally some consequences for him.

As Palpatine readied himself to shoot lightning at Vader, he reacted quickly, igniting his lightsaber and trying to block the Emperor's attack. Leia gasped quietly, stepping back quickly as she was watching in shock the two men going against each other.

"You lied to me about Padme!" Vader growled. "I did not kill her. Our child did not die. I could have been with her instead of doing your bidding all these years." He took one step up the stairs leading to the throne and Palpatine shot another stream of lightning at him that kept him from advancing temporarily. "You knew about everything, didn't you? Why did you send me on this mission? Were you expecting me to kill her too like I did so many others? So you can reveal at the end that she was my daughter?" Vader asked as rage was flowing through his entire body.

Palpatine cackled at his statement. "I have to say I had no idea she was your daughter. But that would have been quite unfortunate for you to experience, Lord Vader." Palpatine pulled Vader's lightsaber out of his hands before resuming the lightning strikes. Vader fell to his knees, screaming in pain as the electricity was frying everything in his suit. "You will learn your place though." Palpatine stood up from the throne, levitating Vader with ease, and he started contorting his mechanical left arm and legs to the point where they were about to fall out of their sockets. As Vader fell to the floor, the lightning resumed and Vader's screams filled the room once more.

"No!" Leia shouted. She was trembling in fear at the sight of Vader being tortured. She hated him, but part of her knew he was not lying about her being his daughter. Just a moment ago he repeated that claim to Palpatine. She knew it had to be true. He was her father. As much as she hated him, she could not just sit by and watch him suffer and do nothing to stop it.

Palpatine laughed again at her plea, stopping his attack on Vader to look over at her. He enjoyed the terror he saw on her face, just as much as he enjoyed the same fear Vader gave off when Palpatine stopped attacking him. Vader was breathing shallowly, his breathing was raspy and sounded even more broken than before. He was relieved that the pain stopped, but he was more worried that Palpatine might hurt Leia for trying to interfere. The Emperor started cackling louder and he resumed his lightning attack on Vader, causing the Sith Lord to cry out in pain once again.

Leia hated this feeling of powerlessness, of feeling nothing but fear and not being able to do anything about it. "Stop!" She screamed. Her shriek was followed by a wave of Force born of her fear and anger at what she was witnessing. It slammed the Emperor back into the throne and it made him lose his concentration for the lightning bolts he was shooting out of his hands.

She looked in shock at what she just did. This was like nothing she had ever experienced before, but somehow it came naturally to her right now. Although the burst of Force was unintentional, she knew it would not be perceived as such. She took deep breaths, keeping her eyes on the body of the Emperor. She did not know what to expect or what will happen if he got up. When the Emperor seemed as if he wouldn't get back up, Leia turned towards Vader to make sure he was still alive.

"Da-..." She started but then screamed in pain. Palpatine was waiting for her to be distracted to get back up and punish her. He shot lightning through her body, laughing hysterically.

"Who knew you really were your father's daughter?" He cackled. "I could teach you to control it. You could be strong. You have so much potential. All you have to do is join me." Palpatine smirked, still torturing her and leaving her unable to respond.

"Nooo!" Vader yelled, his fear of Palpatine turning his attention to his daughter now realized. "You will not take her from me!" Vader growled, clutching Palpatine's throat in a Force choke. He squeezed his fingers together as Palpatine was clawing at his throat and Leia stopped being attacked.

"Leia, go!" Vader pleaded, but she stayed put, frozen in place by fear and pain. Vader continued his choke on Palpatine. Although he was not as powerful as he once was, his desire to save his child from the Emperor filled him with immense strength. In the end, Vader let go of Palpatine once he felt the Emperor's life force gone.

"Leia..." Vader turned to look at her once it was all over. He wanted to say more but his attack on Palpatine along with the torture he just experienced took a great toll on his body and he collapsed next to his daughter.

-- Chapter 6 - Twin Suns

Anakin woke up on the couch of his and Padme's apartment on Coruscant. His head was resting on Padme's lap and Leia, who was about three years-old this time, was sitting on his chest and watching cartoons.

"What happened?" Anakin asked groggily, looking up at his wife, who was playing with his hair.

"You fell asleep watching Bantha Tales with Leia." Padme smiled, pushing Anakin's hair out of his face and running her fingers through it.

Anakin stretched out on the couch, causing Leia to wobble slightly as she was trying to keep her balance on his chest. She looked over at Anakin, frowning at him for disturbing her. He smiled at her reaction.

"I'm sorry, baby." He wrapped his arms around her, sitting up slowly and kissing her cheek. Leia ignored him, her attention dedicated to her cartoons as she started to hum along to the theme song of Bantha Tales. Anakin couldn't help but smile again. Seeing his family together filled his heart with joy.

When Vader woke up from his dream, he found himself aboard his ship. He had new limbs installed and while he was still in pain, it was just the sort that he was forced to deal with everyday. His mask and costume were removed as they both got damaged during Palpatine's torture. He was connected to various machines that ensured he was kept alive and there were droids that were there to assist him.

"Thanks for saving me from the Emperor, Lord Vader." Leia said to him once she noticed he was awake. "We're on your ship, on Alderaan. I reassembled the limbs you've lost. We're even now." She explained dryly. "My father and some other senators are working on a new way to lead the Galaxy now that the Emperor is gone."

Vader listened to her. It hurt him that Leia would not accept him and that he was still Darth Vader in her eyes. He sighed quietly. There were so many things he wanted to tell her. He did not know if she would be willing to listen to it all, but he at least had to try to ask for her forgiveness before anything else.

"Leia... I'm sorry. I'm sorry for hurting you all these years, for trusting the Emperor. I'm sorry for what I did to our family. You and Padme deserved so much better." He looked at her, finally through his eyes rather than through the lenses of his mask. He felt his eyes stinging with tears as his words and his heart were filled with regret over everything that he did and over missing out on everything that could have been. His voice was not distorted by his mask anymore and he was glad to use his own voice too to speak to her.

Leia sighed before taking a deep breath and looking over at her father. She wanted to yell at him, to throw his apology right back at him and chew him out about how it will never be enough to make up for all the pain he has caused not just her, but to everyone else in the Galaxy too. She had no more interest in fighting with him, though. His time was over and thanks to him, Palpatine was no more and the Empire was soon to share the same fate as its Emperor. Seeing him without him mask made Leia realize who Vader really was. He was not some threatening Sith Lord anymore. He looked like a regular man, a man who was hurt and sad. She could see parts of his face still resembling Anakin, but mostly she was glad that he looked nothing like the man she knew to be her biological father. That way she could still love Anakin without having to forgive Vader.

"Please forgive me, my daughter." Vader repeated, noticing the pained look on Leia's face. It broke his heart that he was not be able to help her in any way, that he could not take her pain away, that he could not make her happy.

Leia stood up, taking one last look at him before exiting his chamber and his ship.

Vader became overcome with tears as Leia left. He knew he lost her too. He was not certain that he ever had a chance of getting back to her, but he still had a sliver of hope that she would forgive him in the end and they could be a family. That remnant of hope was all gone now, though and his wails filled the ship. He was truly alone now. For the first time in his life, he realized he was truly alone. He had no more family and even Palpatine was gone this time. There was no one left but himself and the few droids that were looking after him.

He shut his eyes, still sobbing loudly when he felt a pair of hands touch his face. He felt someone pressing her forehead to his and her lips onto his. He opened his eyes to look at the woman standing in front of him.

"I'm never letting you go, Ani. You'll always have me." Padme spoke softly, caressing his face.

"She’s gone." He sniffled, drawing quick breaths as he tried to stop himself from crying. "I couldn't fix it, Padme. She hates me." His tears started again at the mention of Leia hating him.

"She'll come around. She is our daughter and deep down she cares about you too. She's headstrong like her father, but she has your kind heart too." Padme wrapped her arms around him when Vader pulled himself loose from the vertical platform where he was reassembled and he fell to his knees. "Leia isn't our only child. She has a twin brother, Luke." He looked up at her when she revealed that last part.

"We had twins?" He asked, his voice trembling. He felt both pain and happiness. Our family would have been so beautiful, he thought to himself. "Where is Luke?" He asked Padme. "Do you think he'll want me in his life? Do you think he'll want to forgive me?"

"Of course he will. And Leia will, too." She reassured, holding her husband in an embrace. "Take her with you, to Luke. He's on Tatooine."

That night, in the Organa household, Leia recounted to Bail the events that happened while Vader was her bodyguard. She had already told him that Vader was the one who killed Palpatine, but she purposefully left out the details of her being related to Vader. Now she decided it was time to tell him everything.

Although Bail knew the story of Leia being the daughter of Anakin who then turned to the dark side and only existed as Darth Vader, he still listened to his daughter tell her story. When she finished talking, Bail pulled her into a hug and placed a kiss onto her forehead. It was now his turn to reveal the rest of her story and tell her the complete story of Anakin and Padme from when he first met them until the moment Leia came home with him and her brother was sent with Obi-Wan to Tatooine.

Leia was surprised to hear she had a brother, a twin nonetheless. She was sad that they had to be separated and while she understood their reasoning for it, she was still not happy that she had to grow apart from her twin brother.

"I need to go find him. He needs to know too." She told her father and Bail agreed with her.

"I cannot come with you, but you can take C-3PO and R2-D2. They will be good traveling companions. And I will make sure you have everything you need." He smiled as Leia threw her arms around him and hugged him.

The next day, Vader showed up to the Organa residence just as Leia was packing for her journey to Tatooine.

"What do you want?" Leia frowned at the sight of him. She threw some more clothes in a suitcase, before walking back to her closet to grab others.

"Leia..." He spoke her name as softly as he could. Saying her name brought him comfort, it reminded him of his time with Padme, of the time when he believed he still could be with her and their children. "I have found out that you have a twin brother, Luke. He's on Tatooine. I need you to come with me to him. Please." He pleaded to her.

She raised her brows in surprise at his new demeanor. Leia stood silent for a while, considering her options. She did not trust Vader still, but she knew he would not try to hurt her. She was not sure how Luke would react to him, though and she decided that Luke should not have to face Vader alone. Leia knew it was probably futile to try to convince Vader not to go after his son, so she decided not to try that. She knew if she left now, he would follow and there is a chance of him finding Luke first, which she did not want happening.

"Fine. I will come with you, but I have some demands." Leia spoke, trying to sound more official than before while she finished packing. Vader nodded in agreement. "My droids will come with me, too. You cannot hurt anyone at all while I am there. I get to talk to Luke alone before you do. And you have to take both of us back to Alderaan after we find him."

"You have my word." Vader promised before taking one look at the droids, the same ones who once belonged to him and his wife.

"Well, then let's not waste any more time." Leia reached to grab her suitcase, but Vader grabbed it for her first. She looked at him, frowning at first, but then decided to let it go and allow him to help her. She walked with him towards his ship, the two droids were following behind them. He made sure to walk slower than usually so that she would not have to struggle to keep up with him, since she was much shorter than him. Leia kept looking over at him while they walked. She thought about many things. She was wondering how the journey will go for the three of them. She was worried Luke might not like her or even want to leave his current home. She knew she most likely would not leave Alderaan if anyone asked her to. She was also worried about Vader and how going to find Luke together will make her see him differently.

"You could pilot." Vader said to her once they got on the ship. He remembered the times when he was a Padawan and the joy it brought him when he was allowed to pilot. He did not know much of what Leia liked, but he figured that her being a Skywalker meant she also liked flying. He loved flying and even Padme was a great pilot even though she did not spend most of her time aboard a ship.

"Me?" She asked, taken by surprise by his request.

"Yes, if you want to."

"I wasn't that great during my practice lessons." She warned, feeling a bit embarrassed to have to admit that to Vader.

"That's not a problem. I'll help if things go bad." He assured.

"Why do you want me to pilot?" She raised her brow, looking at him. She knew he was trying to get close to her, but she also really wanted to fly. It did not happen too often that she had the chance to fly and her last instructor told her she should never be allowed to fly after Leia let the ship spin out of control before crashing it belly-up above the balcony of the Organa home.

"This was originally your mission, so you should fly." Vader answered. She nodded, not willing to tell him that she would have asked R2 or Threepio to pilot instead. She took the pilot seat while Vader sat next to her.

"Okay, R2, give us a course to Tatooine." She asked as the astromech beeped happily and plugged himself in to the ship's controls to chart a course for them. With their coordinates ready, Leia lifted the ship and took off towards Tatooine.

Notes:

- I might write one-shots about Leia and Vader’s adventures while on the “road“ to Tatooine. And maybe I’ll write the story where they meet Luke. I have some more ideas of Vader teaching her a bit about the Force and even the two of them talking about the Force. Maybe Leia asking Vader to break some of the promises he’s made to her before the journey. I even thought about writing a funny one where Leia gets a crush on someone they meet and Vader is like “panik!“

- Leia will eventually come to terms that Vader is her dad and that he can change and be good again.

Chapter 1 - Her Eyes / Chapter 2 - Dreams

Chapter 3 - Anakin and Padme / Chapter 4 - The Ghosts of Polis Massa

#anidala #vaderdala #anakin skywalker #leia organa #darth vader #skyfam #my fics #a different hope

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commanderrivercc-3628 · 4 years

Text

Rose Petal: Chapter 1

pairing: Wolffe x fem!Reader

warnings: cursing, horrible views towards clone(I’m sorry)

word count: 1,951

Fluff/Angst

notes: I would like to give a special thanks to my best friend (@jelisnail) for coming up with the baby’s name. Thank you to everyone who encouraged me to post this. I hope you like it.

Tags: @jelisnail, @catsnkooks, @queenchaos-5

Wolffe sat in the back of the cab, holding a small bundle of blankets close to his chest. Tears that had once poured down his face had long since dried, leaving stained streaks on his cheeks. Wolffe’s eyes were still puffy and the tip of his nose was pink. Wolffe was in a daze, lost in his own thoughts as he stared out the window next to him, hardly able to focus on the speeders rushing past him. The lights of the other speeders blurred at the speed.

‘Why couldn't you have stayed?’ Wolffe thought. ‘How can you expect me to do this? I don’t know what I’m doing.’

Wolffe wanted to cry again, but he had no tears left. He was at a complete and utter loss. He hadn’t felt this broken since the Separatists killed the majority of his original battalion. His vod. Leaving only himself, Boost, and Sinker.

He was pulled away from his thoughts by soft cooing coming from the bundle in his arms. Wolffe looked down at the bundle, seeing the face of the small baby it held. He smiled softly at the baby, who was looking up at him with big golden-brown eyes. His baby. His daughter. Wolffe slowly lifts his hand and lightly boops her nose, drawing out a little giggle from the baby. Wolffe leans down and presses a small kiss to her forehead. As he pulled back, Wolffe saw a big smile on his daughter’s face.

“Alright, buddy, we’re here.” the driver said, as the cab slowed to a stop.

Wolffe passed him credits and carefully exited the cab. He watched as it sped away. He sighed and started walking back towards the barracks, trying to figure out what to do with his daughter. He wasn’t just going to abandon her.

‘This wasn’t part of the plan. Sera wasn’t supposed to-’ Wolffe thought.

He sighed again. He needed a new plan. Who could he go to for help? Wolffe’s eyes widened in realization.

“(Y/N),” Wolffe said out loud, looking at his baby, who only blink at him in response. “She’ll help us, ad’ika. I know she will.”

You were Wolffe’s best friend, but it wasn’t always that way. You two met when you arrived to the 104th as a civilian medic. You two instantly disagreed on everything. Wolffe refused to believe you actually cared for the clones. That is until he got hurt. Ventress attacked him with her lightsabers, resulting in Wolffe losing his right eye. You were the one who treated him, took care of him. After that, Wolffe saw you differently. He actually talked to you. Not because he had to, but because he wanted to. And one thing led to another.

You were the only one who knew about the baby. Though you both suspected Plo Koon knew and he just didn’t mention it. Though neither of you knew for sure. That’s why Wolffe instantly thought of you. Not that he didn’t trust his vod. It’s the fact that they wouldn’t know what to do any more than he did. Since you were a civvie doctor, however, he figured you were his best bet.

He quickly made his way to your barracks. He’d apologize later for how late it was. He checked the chrono on the wall: 0300 hours. He sighed and pounded on your door. He heard grumbling on the other side. The door opened and revealed an extremely grumpy you.

“Do you have any idea what time it-,” You paused, realizing who was at your door. “Wolffe. What’s wro-.”

You stopped when you saw the bundle of blankets in his arms. Your eyes doubled in size. You instantly looked up at Wolffe’s face, seeing nothing but anxiety, fear, and sadness.

“Come in.” You said, moving out of the doorway for Wolffe to make his way into the room.

You closed the door behind him. As you turn back around, you see Wolffe standing awkwardly in the middle of your barracks. You could tell he was trying to think of what to say. You’d never seen Wolffe at such an utter loss for words. It hurt you to see him this way.

“Wolffe?” you asked, drawing his attention. “What happened?”

He sighed, still clutching the baby.

“She left. Sera left. She kriffing ran away!” He yelled.

The baby began wailing. Wolffe winced and tried rocking her, but she wouldn’t stop crying. You stepped forward and looked at Wolffe. Wolffe nodded and reluctantly handed you the baby he hadn’t let go of since he left the hospital. As soon as the girl was in your arms, she instantly calmed down with the help of your gentle rocking and soothing shushes. Wolffe let out a sigh of relief.

“I’m not even gonna ask how you did that.”

“What do you mean she ran away, Wolffe?”

“I just… I just went to go get caf.”

“She’s beautiful, Sera,” Wolffe said in awe as he stared at his sleeping daughter.

“Yeah.”

“Have you thought of a name yet?” Wolffe asked.

“No.”

“Um, al-alright. Hey, I’m-I’m gonna go get some caf real quick. I’ll be right back, okay?”

Sera didn’t respond and Wolffe decided just to take it as a yes. As he made his way to the mess, all he could think about was the precious baby girl in her mother’s arms. From the moment he saw that little girl, he knew he’d protect her with his life. He’d do anything for her. She was his world. And if doing anything for her meant he’d have to live the rest of his short life with Sera, then he would. He’d do it in a heartbeat. As much as he’d hate to do so.

Wolffe got his caf and made his way back to the hospital room. Once he got there his brows furrowed in confusion. The baby was there, but Sera wasn’t. In her place on the bed was a note.

‘Wolffe,

I’m not going to do this, and trust me I’m not sorry about it. I can’t raise a baby with something like you. A clone, not even a real person. Just an object owned by the Republic. Something for me to use for my own pleasure. Something to die alone and forgotten on some battlefield. And then I got pregnant with your spawn. A punishment I didn’t deserve. I’m not going to sit around and raise your baby, if you can even call that thing a baby at all, while you go running around the galaxy, leaving me to do everything. But I’m not going to do that. We both know we don’t love each other, and I certainly don’t love that thing you put inside me. And I know you were going to leave me. That is until you found out I was pregnant with your whatever it is. Don’t even bother trying to find me. I’ll be long gone, starting a life with a person, a human, a real man. Not some freak laboratory experiment like you. Oh, and name the little monster whatever you want, I don’t care.

Sera’

Wolffe crumpled the note in pure anger. But then tears started to fall, but not for Sera. She was right he didn’t love her, and he was going to leave her until he found out she was pregnant. No. He cried because of his daughter and how Sera called her a ‘thing’. And be really couldn’t care less about what Sera thought of him, because he already knew it was true. He was just a clone. Expendable. Property of the Republic. A weapon, created to destroy and die. But that beautiful baby girl was NOT a thing. NOT a monster. She was a person. One who deserved the world.

‘It’s my fault,’ Wolffe thought. ‘If she hadn’t been my baby, she would still have a mother. She could have the life she deserved. Maybe I should give her her best shot and give her to a couple who can take care of her and give her a normal life.’

He dropped the note, letting it fall to the ground, and made his way other to the small bassinet that held his world. His heart. Tears still pour down his cheeks. He looked at the small girl. He gently picked her up, and gently held her in his arms, making sure to support her head just like the nurse had instructed him to do. His heart melted as she slowly opened her eyes to look up at him. They were golden-brown, the same as his. He knew then and there, that he’d never give up his daughter. He would fight until his last breath to keep her.

“Wolffe, I am so sorry.” You paused looking down at the now sleeping baby. “I can’t believe Sera said all those horrible things about you and the baby.”

“Yeah, Sera shouldn’t have kriffing said banthashit about my daughter.”

“She shouldn’t have said that banthashit about you either, Wolffe.”

“It’s the truth, (Y/N).”

“Gods, Wolffe, no it’s not. You’re a man, not an object. You’re a person. You’re not something she can use. You’re a human being with feelings and emotions. I wished you’d understand that.”

Wolffe didn’t meet your gaze as you both stayed quiet for a few moments. Wolffe broke the silence first.

“I don’t know what I’m going to do, (Y/N). I want to keep her. I have to keep her, but I don’t know how I’m going to do it.”

You hummed at that. Thinking of how you could help Wolffe. You rolled your eyes.

‘Damn Republic and your stupid prejudice and you unfair rules towards the clones.’ You thought.

If clones were allowed to have children this would be a lot easier to deal with. Wolffe could get decommissioned if this got out. You knew his vod would protect both Wolffe and their new niece. And General Plo certainly wouldn’t let anything happen to them either.

“I’ll help you, Wolffe.”

He smiled at me.

“I figured you would, but I just don’t know how to do this. How do I even be a father? How am I gonna watch my daughter while I’m planetside, trying to keep myself, the General, and my vod alive?”

You think for a moment, then smile. You still hold the baby in your arms.

“Well, I don’t know what to tell you other than you’ll figure out how to be a father. That’s what everyone has to do. As far as watching the baby… I can watch her.”

Wolffe’s brows shoot up and his jaw drops.

“No, I can’t ask you to do that.”

“You’re not asking, I offered and I’d be glad to do it. Look, I’m not a field medic, meaning I’m almost never planetside. Meaning your daughter will be safe with me away from all the shooting and explosions.”

Wolffe sighed, seeing no other option that didn’t involve giving up his daughter. He nodded reluctantly in agreement.

“What do we do now?” Wolffe asked.

“Well, for right now, you need to sleep.”

Wolffe went to protest.

“No, Wolffe I’m guessing you haven’t slept in hours because of the baby being born. I’ll stay up and watch her. We’ll figure out what to do tomorrow. I already have some ideas I need to think more about.”

Wolffe nodded and you gestured to your cot. Wolffe plopped down on it and closed his eyes.

“Wolffe?”

He hummed in response.

“What’s her name?”

Wolffe opened his eyes and looked at the bundle in your arms. He thought for a second before smiling at the baby.

“Rose.” He whispered so softly you almost couldn’t hear him. “My little rose petal.”

#commander wolffe x reader #wolffe x reader #wolffe x you #commander wolffe x you #wolffe #commander wolffe #rose petal fic #the clone wars fic #the clone wars #(Y/N)

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damn-stark · 4 years

Text

Luke Skywalker

Chapter 5 of Dark Temptations

A/N-we have some Rey this chapter :) anyway I loved how this chapter turned out!! Hope you guys like it too, let me know what you thought?! Also some parts this chapter were inspired by the song ‘Exit Music (for a film)’ by Radiohead (listen to it or don’t, up to you all)

Warning-Violence, swearing, ANGST, flashback, SLOWBURN, long chapter, Snoke :/

Pairing- Dark!Poe x Skywalker!reader

(Let me know if you want to be tagged)

————

Rey slowly lifted her gaze to meet Ben’s and the corner her lips tugged to a wicked smirk, “she’s dead.”

Ben froze and his world collapsed around him, he sucked in a shaky breath and he shook his head, swallowing down the thick lump that formed in his throat. He gasped, “no, you’re lying...LIAR!” He threw his arm upward, whilst he ignited his blue lightsaber so the point of his blade swung up on Rey in intentions to slash her, but as his blade passed her nothing happened, no blood, no gash. Nothing.

Rey gasped and that stupid smirk she had was gone in seconds as her eyes darted to what she had seen the lightsaber slash to find herself unharmed.

Again Ben repeated in a more demanding and angrier voice, choosing to ignore Rey’s previous statement; “where’s my cousin? Where’s y/n?”

Rey straightened her shoulders and her gaze turned to a glare, blinking to meet Ben’s scowl to voice her comment with added annoyance and anger, “dead...your precious cousin is dead…” she smirked again, “or maybe not...why don’t you come to find out?”

Ben grimaced, “trust me. I will.”

Rey slowly walked towards him, making Ben stay his ground and lift his lightsaber to threaten her, disgusted by the way she smiled, like if this were a game to her. It was also in this moment where he now fully realized that whatever enchantment he had been under after he left the capital ship, after her and her mindless white helmets, or snoke had put him under vanished at the mere sight of her, at the sound of the words that spilled from her mouth. All he felt for her was pure anger, he no longer thought of her as anything else but his true enemy. Whatever she was doing now, this-this illusion he just wanted it gone.

“You’re not doing this…” she voiced wanting to sound confident but sounding confused. “No, this is something else.”

“I’ll kill you. You’re a monster.” He seethed, following by taking careful steps towards the body, thinking that it wasn’t his cousin..it couldn’t be. It wasn’t—Rey saw and felt Ben’s confliction and just smirked wider, raising her hands to lift her hood over her head again, stopping as she heard loud footsteps come from Ben’s side, she met his gaze and then looked towards the doorway in Ben’s ship, her smirk faltering as she saw the famous Jedi her master had spoke almost so fondly about.

“Ben.” He spoke, breaking Ben’s gaze away from the body and looking over to see his uncle stand at the doorway, confused more than ever before. “I wanted to talk to you….is everything okay?”

Ben blinked and looked to where Rey had been standing only to see a chair and a wall filled with buttons and controls, no cloaked Rey or the body she claimed was his cousin. Nothing but his surroundings. Ben nodded stiffly and deactivated his lightsaber to hang the hilt back on his side, sighing before looking to his uncle once more, seeing his confusion spilled all over his face.

“Are you sure?” He repeated.

Ben answered bluntly, “yes. We’ll leave shortly, I don't know where she is, but I’m sure we’ll figure it out.” Ben moved to walk past his uncle, but he was quickly stopped much to his dismay.

“Look what I did in the past, judge your confliction, I’m sorry.” His uncle began to explain, making Ben’s eyebrows pinch together, feeling more anger at his words.

“It’s all in the past.” Again he tried to walk away, but he was stopped and before his uncle could press on the matter, Ben cut him off, letting his anger speak for him. “I’m not mad about that anymore, that’s long been forgotten. I’m angry that you left her. You left your daughter when she needed you most, she suffered and you left her. Maybe it’s your fault she was taken away and that she’ll get killed.” With that said, Ben took the chance that his uncle froze to finally storm away, ignoring his family calling out to him as he stormed past them almost feeling as if he were leaving a smoked trail behind him with the anger that burned inside. All he could picture was the body and all he could hope was that it wasn’t really her….what would he do if it was?

Fall into the pit of darkness he felt creeping inside him? Something that tried to take over and cloud his judgment and every part of himself? She wouldn’t want that, his parents wouldn’t want that, but if the reason he had turned away from the dark temptation was gone. What did he have left? Jacen was gone. She couldn’t be gone as well.

Ben hurried into his small room in the ship and let the darkness and coldness of its now closed surroundings swallow him, leaving him to wallow with his anger all alone. What Rey said, what she taunted him with left him fuming. Made him grip onto the small desk for some form of stability as he tried to control his breathing and his anger, tried breathing in and out and forget the loud voices in his head. Tried to think that she was okay and that he was going to save her soon...that Rey was lying—she was lying. She was just trying to trick him and get him angry—she was lying—Ben tilted his head up to see his reflection through the mirror hanging on the wall.

Noticing nothing, not even a shadow or an outline of himself with the darkness of the room swallowing this place whole, swallowing him whole—he gripped onto the edge of the desk tighter until he swore he heard the wood crack underneath his grip, feel a pinch of sharp pain on his palms that made him throw the desk to the side to make it slam into the wall. Made his hands fly to the mirror and rip it out of the wall to throw it to the broken desk on the floor. Hearing the glass crack as it hit the wood. And now when he looked up to the wall he saw nothing but darkness again.

“Fuck!” His shoulders finally dropped and he let his head fall, sucking in a deep and shaky breath of air. Moments ago he had felt somewhat happy, now he felt angry, he felt tears well in his eyes, both angry and sad tears. He felt like tearing this whole room and just sit in the darkness with the mess around. The anger and darkness was just so loud. Almost frightening so. He felt like he could do nothing, felt alone…

Until out of nowhere a bright blue light casted on the wall, distracting him from his thoughts. He slowly lifted his head and let this feeling of familiarity seep through. His lips parted and he turned around slowly to see….“Grandfather…” his eyes drifted to the other blue silhouette beside him, “Master Tano.”

His grandfather smiled, “Ben.”

Ben’s eyes bounced from each of them, hearing Master Tano greeting as her eyes darted to the mess, her smile wavering and her gaze turning concerned, before she could question it, Ben spoke up first. “I’m honored to see you two, it’s been a while, but uh, why so out of nowhere?”

His grandfather blinked and let his arms drop to his side, “we’re looking for your cousin, we want to talk to her,” he pauses and collects his thoughts, like if he had trouble describing what he was feeling.

“We’ve tried to reach her,” Master Tano added, “but it seems she’s still blocking us out. We’ve tried multiple times but everything just comes out weirdly blank. Like if, like if she were gone.”

Ben sighed deeply and his shoulders dropped just like his eyes had, focusing on the floor and trying to push out the anger from before—“she….she,” Ben took a deep breath and cleared his throat to talk clearly, “the first order took her, they muted her force abilities which is why you can’t feel her presence.”

Both ghosts looked to each other and seemed to share a look that spoke words Ben didn’t or could ever understand, all he could do was stand and wait, begin to wish that the person they spoke of was here, she’d know what to say, she’d know the quiet but knowing looks, she’d make this less awkward.

“What can we do to help?” Ben’s grandfather asked, his happiness gone and only expressing the same concern as Master Tano.

“Unless you know where the capitol ship she’s in is…”

His grandfather chuckled softly and shook his head, “the force may be powerful, but it is not all knowing, without her presence we are as stuck as you. Sorry.” He walked up to Ben and lifted his arm to rest it on his shoulder, offering an assuring squeeze that his smile also expressed, “but we’ll see what we can do. You’re not alone Ben.”

A faint but soft smile tugged at the corner of his Ben’s lips, “Thank you.”

His grandfather pulled away and crouched down to collect something small and golden from the floor. Ben's eyes followed his movements as he stood back up and stepped forward to take Ben’s hand and place the golden dices on his palm, offering him the same smile and a quick and short nod, “we’ll talk soon.”. Ben didn’t respond and just watched as both ghosts disappeared just like they had appeared out of nowhere and out of sudden, leaving him alone once more, cradling the dices in his hand and using them as a sign of hope.

Hope he very much needed after feeling as if his anger and desperation were pulling him into a dark pit. It was overwhelming feeling such a thing, like if he were being choked, like the darkness was grabbing him by his throat and pulling. He just wanted it to stop, the faster he could find his cousin, the quicker this damned feeling could go away.

——

(Luke Skywalker’s p.o.v)

“Jacen! Jacen! Where’s your sister?!”

The freigented boy ran up to Luke, his blue eyes wide and expressing a fear he so rarely expressed as his words fumbled as he tried to talk, his eyes narrowing on the jungle in the distance as he tried to look through the rain, “th-they took her that way! I wanted t-to go after her but I waited for you.”

Luke stood to his given height and his eyes snapped to the jungle, finding it unlike before, darkened and unlit by fires as the rain poured down. A detail he couldn’t think of anything else but horrible. It meant that the raiders had gone either into hiding or maybe even left the planet. Which he hoped wasn't the case, he didn’t see a ship leave, but amongst the chaos it could’ve happened without him knowing. But again he hoped that hadn’t happened, that they hadn’t taken his little girl.

“Okay,” Luke breathed, his hand resting on his son's shoulder to look down and give him an order, “you stay here with Lor San Takka and Ben. I’m going to go find your sister.” Without waiting for a response he tried to rush past Jacen, but he was too quickly stopped as he felt the eleven year old boy tug at his robe to stop him.

“No!” Jacen argued, “I want to go with you!”

“No! You’re staying, I'll be back.” Luke countered sternly, “stay, Jacen.” Feeling said boy let go, Luke continued with his mission to find his daughter, running in a pace faster than he’s ever run, noting the sound of his hammering heart inside his chest, not only for what he had been doing to drive the raiders away, but out of fear for his daughters safety. He couldn’t deal or even think of the possibility of having her be taken, a girl of seven defenseless against a group of nasty and distasteful raiders. He only hoped that he could reach them even still.

All he could think of how scared she might be, how disappointed that he wasn’t there to save her in time, his mind spun with that thought that he only barely managed to catch the sound of a snap of a twig not far from where he was. The sound made him stop in his tracks as he also held onto his breath to listen better, catching the sound of rustling straight ahead. Luke pulled out his lightsaber and slowly stalked towards the sound, his eyes wide and intent to where he heard the noise come from past the trees, spotting a blue hue shine in the distance that got brighter the closer he approached and the closer it seemed to get.

His grip tightened and he kept slowly stalking forward, exhaling slowly as he felt a familiar feeling, making him feel a mixture of different feelings that ranged between scared, determined and assurance. He tried to focus on the reassurance, but as he saw the blue hue get closer he could feel that getting dim—he slowly moved aside a big leaf and he froze as his eyes widened at the sight of the ghost of his father and Master Tano holding onto y/n’s hands as they stopped at the sight of him.

Luke’s lip parted and he put his lightsaber away and looked to the ghosts and his daughter, feeling now more surprised than anything.

“Dad!”

Finally snapping from his stupor he focused on his little girl and got onto one knee as she broke away from both ghosts and rushed to embrace him in a hug, her little arms trying to wrap around his neck. “Hey, little sun, are you okay?”

She nodded and pulled away to face him, smiling wide as she looked back at her grandfather and Master Tano. “Yeah! Grandpa and Master Tano helped me get away from the bad people!”

“Yeah?” Luke reassured, his eyes drifting to his father and Master Tano to offer them a grateful smile.

“Yes!”

She followed by wrapping him in another tight embrace and holding onto him as Luke stood back up and addressed the ghosts before him. “Thank you to the both of you, so much. I can’t ever express how thankful I am.” He smiled softly, earning the same gesture from both ghosts before his father responded first.

“It wasn’t a problem, Luke, we would do it anytime.”

“Yeah,” Master Tano agreed, “plus she’s a fighter, I think the raiders were more scared of her than she was of them.”

Luke laughed softly and pressed a hand on y/n’s back. “Well isn’t that good?”

“Yes it is!” She answered happily, pulling away and looking at both ghosts, “will I see you guys again?” She cocked her head to the side and moved aside the wet strands of hair from her face, offering them a questioning gaze.

Master Tano grinned, “of course you will, soon.”

“We’ll talk again, soon Luke.” His father interjected, offering y/n a wave and a smile before they both disappeared, leaving the area surrounded by darkness. Finally letting him put the little girl down and take out his lightsaber to ignite it to provide some light as he put it down on the wet ground, noticing through the bright green light that her smile slowly began to disappear as his face dropped and twisted into one that showed his anger at her actions.

“Y/N.” He spoke sternly, “I’m very disappointed in you. You disobeyed me.”

Her face fell and her lip pouted as her eyes fell to the ground, “I know,” she whispered.

“I told you to hide and you did the opposite, you could’ve been killed or taken by the raiders. You put yourself in danger.”

Her chest heaved as tears began to roll down her cheeks while she tried to explain herself in a shaky voice, “I was just trying to be brave like you. They wanted to hurt Lor San Takka and I wanted to help him, like you would have done.”

Luke again got on one knee to get to her level and cradled her cheek to wipe the tears off, “being brave doesn’t mean you go looking for trouble.”

“But I wanted to be like you, not be scared of anything.”

“Who says I don’t get scared?”

“Jacen.”

“Well I do get scared. I was today.”

She sniffled and finally met his gaze, “You were?”

Luke nodded, “yes, I was scared I was going to lose you.”

“I thought Jedi couldn't get scared.” She countered. “That they we face them. Because it’s our destiny.”

“Who said that?”

“Jacen.”

Luke smiled, “well maybe we shouldn’t always listen to Jacen now should we?” She giggled and shook her head, but said nothing to let Luke continue, “it’s true that fear is something that can lead to the dark side, but being scared is part of being human, as long as you know how to control it there's nothing to worry about. Being scared especially for someone as young as you is normal. It’s okay to be scared. It’s okay for me to be scared as well.”

She smiled and moved the same strand of hair away from her face, “but you know who was more scared?”

“Hmm?”

“The bad guys.”

A grin spread on Luke’s lips and he chuckled as he pulled her in for a hug, “that’s cause no one messes with a Skywalker—” he abruptly cut himself off as he heard rustling coming from behind him, making him pick up his lightsaber to get ready to fight any stragglers left behind. Only to see Jacen walk past some trees and move past the big leaf, his still widened and terrified expression softening as he noticed his sister with Luke.

“Y/N!”

“Jacen!”

Said boy ran to her and hugged her from behind, only to be moved after Luke had put his lightsaber on the ground in order to grab Jacen’s arm to maneuver him to his side so he could pull him into a hug as well. Having to leave the lesson on disobeying for later as he took in both kids' presence and thanked the force that they were okay before kissing the top of their heads.

Y/n pulled her head away to meet Luke’s gaze to ask him her question, “dad?”

“Hmm?”

“You're going to go find me if I’m ever in trouble like today, right?”

Luke pressed a kiss on her forehead before answering with a smile, “always.”

——

Takodana

Luke takes a deep breath and stops in his tracks, looking up at the huge statue of Maz Kanata in the middle of the courtyard with what seems to be hundreds of flags decorating the walls, his gaze lowers and reads the words at the foot of the statue ‘Pirate Queen’. He can’t help but show an amused smile tug at the corner of his lips as Han joined his side.

“Is she your pirate queen, Han?”

Han face scrunches and turns to shoot Luke a glare, scoffing as the only audible response before he continues to move along, leaving Luke to walk aside his sister while Ben slowly follows from behind, his mind seeming to be miles away from this castle. Perhaps just like Luke’s, his body might be here, walking into the castle, but his mind was worrying about the only child he had left living. Thinking of keeping a promise he made her years ago as well as thinking if she was okay, that’s all he could let himself think of, the other outcome was too painful.

“We’ll find her.” Leia suddenly said, breaking Luke from his train of thought with words he needed and she of course knew to share.

Luke smiled softly and mouthed thank you before the loud outburst as they entered the castle interrupted him; “Han Solo!” Said man stood awkwardly eying the crowd and lifted his hand stiffly to greet the now silent crowd which seemed to get even more quiet as Luke entered the castle. His presence made someone drop their platter to the floor, creating a stunned tension that kept everyone staring, even the wrong type of people; until Ben closed the front doors.

“Luke.” The small orange sentient maneuvered through the crowd, until she reached the group, greeting Han first, “where’s my Wookiee boyfriend.”

“He stayed behind fixing the Falcon.”

Her gaze narrowed before she moved towards Leia and showed her a kind smile, “it’s been a long time princess Leia.”

“Too long.”

Seconds later Maz continued to move before Luke, smiling and taking his hand in hers. “It’s about time you returned Luke, the Galaxy needs you.”

Luke sighs quietly, “as much as you say it does need me, there's someone who needs me more, do you—”

“You need to talk.” She interrupted, pulling away and offering Ben a greeting smile before she turned her back to them, making everyone go back to what they were doing before their grand and unexpected entrance, only following the group as Maz waved them over to guide them towards an empty table, “why else would you be here.” She sat across from all four of them and took a long look at Ben, making said man squirm under her gaze, looking to his mother before meeting Maz’s gaze. “You have your mother's eyes.” She smiled.

Ben just offered her a shy smile before she turned away and focused on all members of the group, seeming to be mentally counting the people on the table multiple times before her eyes went back to Luke, her face dropping and seeming to connect the dots all by herself.

“We came,” Luke spoke up, “to know what information you have on the first order, mainly Snokes ship. My daughter, they took her and I can’t connect with her to know where she is. We came to you for your help.” His voice cracked and at that moment he looked at Maz like if she were the only person in this galaxy, his eyes burning with hope on what she could know.

Maz didn't smile, nor did she repeat her outburst from before, instead she looked down for a second before meeting Luke’s eyes once more. “I’m sorry, Luke, but I have nothing. Some resistance spies came here not long ago mentioning that they were going to the ship, but they never gave any coordinates nor have they returned. But,” Luke's attention didn’t waver at all, his attention focused solely on her, the hope in her voice. “You could try Ilum, it's a planet located in the 7G sector of the unknown regions, within the Ilum system. It’s as you may know where young Jedi used to go before. The First Order uses it now for its resources, it’s supposed to be their main base, your daughter might be there or information on her or Snokes ships might be within their base.” Her expression turned pitiful as she took Luke’s hand, “I’m sorry I can’t provide more, but if I can and theirs new information that passes by here I’ll let you know, you—”

Her words began to tune out as she kept talking, as the people he came with began talking, it was just hard to focus on anything as he thought about how he had broken his daughter's promise to keep her safe, to go after when she needed help. All he could think of was that same little girl that his father and Master Tano managed to help and return to him, all he could see was the face of that little girl in his mind asking for his help, urging him to hurry. His own desperation felt almost like a choking feeling, he felt as if every bad memory from his past piled on too, making him even more desperate, choking him. There was a light of hope, he always knew how to hold on to that, it felt almost as if that hope was calling him, a sense of light.

“Luke.” His eyes lifted immediately, feeling like the familiarity that was calling him was coming from inside this castle. “Luke.” His eyes again looked, only this time around, noticing that they were talking amongst themselves, none of them even looking to Luke to be that who called him. “Luke.” Again his eyes lifted and this time he focused on a door in the far end of this room, feeling the call come from there. “Luke.” Said man suddenly stands from his chair and excuses himself away from the group, not waiting for a response before he begins to maneuver past people and tables to reach the door where the call was coming from, said door opening and showing a hall dimly lit by torches on the walls.

Luke didn’t hesitate to walk past the door, letting it close behind him before hearing the call again, louder this time more persistent. But with that also came more...his daughter's voice, “You're going to go find me if I’m ever in trouble like today, right?” His breathing hitched but he kept moving, hearing more voices the more he continued, his father's voice, Master Obi-Kenobis, Master Yoda’s and Jacen’s. “I only wish to be as great of a Jedi as you.” They were followed by one another, louder and louder each time, speaking words from past conversations until it all suddenly ended as he reached a single dark door—his eyes examined the door before a small control panel lit beside it, opening said door and showing all types of things stored inside, but only one that caught his full attention.

Without having to wait, he walked in and walked directly towards a small but long box, halting once he stood before it and heard the voices again, louder, booming this time. His gaze narrowed and his hands reached to the box, flipping open the small lock to open it, seeing a black silk cloth covering what was contained inside. The voices only grew louder and more intense until he flipped the cloth over and it all suddenly stopped as he saw something he thought he’d lost forever.

His father's lightsaber.

——

“Poe?”

Said man’s head instantly flew up and he was quick to put the ring in his hand into his pant pocket before he turned to see you inside the small room. His eyes were wide and seemed to express shock, but he was quick to change his demeanor, putting on a smug smile before he put the butt of the cigarra between his lips, sucking in the smoke and inhaling deeply, following by taking the small object out with the sides of his index and middle finger to exhale and blow the smoke upward a few seconds later.

“I’m surprised you came.”

You huff, “like I had a choice.” Your eyes fall on the cigarra between his fingers and you shoot him a disapproving look, “that’ll kill y’know?” You walk up to the balcony’s rail and press your body on it to watch the soft purple and orange hues of the sunset, seeing the birds in the screen fly past, again giving it such a vivid scene, the songs they produced barely made you hear Poe’s lighthearted scoff as he copies your movements, looking at the side of your face as he turned his head to watch you.

“Argue anymore and I might think you’re worried.”

Your nose scrunches up and you scoff, “keep dreaming.”

He extended his hand out to you in a gesture to offer you a puff of what he was smoking which you were quick to react with a lift of your eyebrow, “no, thank you.”

He smiles, “you hate me and you still manage to respond so kindly.”

You roll your eyes and turn back to the screens, smelling the same pungent smell release into the room as he blew some of it out. Feeling his eyes on you as you admired the virtual sunset you wished were real. You felt almost felt like a teenager in one of those books you used to read as a child, one where the character sighed as she watched the sunsets or really anything pretty as she was locked in some high away tower….wait...oh the fucking poetry—you sigh and ask, “where is this anyway? This sunset?”

Poe finally turns to watch the screens again and hesitates to answer, “uhh, I don’t know, some random planet.”

You hum softly and have the thought of asking him to change it and maybe display Tatooine or Yavin-4, but you didn’t want to bother actually asking so instead you had to deal with watching this, being left to wonder again of what he did and what he wanted; “so, what do you want? Finn said you wanted to talk to me.” Both Poe and you turn to meet each other's gaze, whilst he also used the force to place his cigarra in the ashtray all nonchalant and very cocky like, his gaze never wavering in the meantime.

“I wanted to talk to a pretty girl, is that hard to believe?”

You roll your eyes and shake your head, “I will punch your lung, see how you do breathing after with all that crap polluting them.”

Poe’s lips broke into a genuine smile, “I like it. You. You’ve really grown into yourself, y/n. I mean it, and not like in a sexual way that you’re thinking of, okay? Like really, you have grown into yourself.”

You narrow your gaze on him and tilt your head as you lean one arm on the railing of the balcony to try and figure out what he was trying to get at with this talking down memory lane. He avoided your question and brought this up again….he was up to something or wanted something...hmm—“okay,” You breathe, “well if we’re doing this, why did you spare those spies, hmm? I mean they got killed regardless, but why did you want to spare them? They had important intel I’m sure. I don’t believe you would spare them out of the kindness of your heart.”

Poe swallowed thickly and looked back at the sunset, letting you notice once again the soft colors bask his face, almost seeming to highlight the scar trailing on his face, showing the red color that still stained it, that would always stay as a reminder of what you did. Looking at it almost made you feel guilty...almost! Because it was well deserved. Plus...it suited him, but that-that was just a quick comment inside your head, completely harmless and innocent. Maybe not like those words about his parents, but those were words out of anger, a stupid and vicious comment you should’ve never made, it was a low blow….

“I did it because I didn’t feel like killing them. Simple.” He answered, his jaw clenched and his gaze solely focused on what was displayed before him, which is why you didn’t believe him.

“Bullshit. They had info your dear master Snoke wouldn’t want out.” You remark, your attention still on him, noticing as his eyes slid to the corner to watch you. Waiting to see if you would look away and leave the subject, but once he noticed and took in the silence and tension of the wait he sighed and turned his body again to face you.

His voice was soft this time, sounding almost sincere? “Because it wasn’t the right thing to do, believe it or not, Princess we’re not as evil as everyone paints us to be.”

You both keep holding each other’s gaze for a moment, a second of disbelief showing behind your eyes as your mind tries to process his words. Lingering in between the line of believing him or not. Half of you did, but the other half didn’t, which should you believe? Well...that was hard to choose, his face seemed to be sincere as he spoke, his words as well. The only thing that didn’t let you believe him was well, going based on strategic points from his persona. His first order persona more like. And he noticed your unsure expression.

Poe leaned in slightly and reassured his statement, “it’s true, it wasn’t right. You of all people know how that feels. You’re too morally good, always have been. That’s a compliment.” He smiles softly.

You scoff, but the corner of your lips twitch, “not true, I’m not all morals...not anymore, I’ve gone off that path and disappointed everyone that I cared about in the meantime.” Everyone except Ben, you thought.

“Then fuck them.” Your eyebrows furrow at his comment and he quickly follows his comment. “I just mean that the perfect person you tried to portray in the past. That person your dad wanted you to be was just not going to happen.”

“My dad didn’t want me to be someone I wasn’t, he wanted me to be me, the person I wanted to be. Don’t talk like you know him.” You snap, surprisingly not getting him mad, instead hearing him try to correct himself.

“Listen, okay? We’re not perfect, we’re not meant to be perfect. Plus try to deny the fact that what you’ve done to be where you are now, hasn’t made you stronger?”

Your gaze falls and you simply shrug.

“I'll tell you, you’re a hell of a fighter. Not everyone would’ve stood up like you did today. You’ve got fire in you, Princess.” You turn to once again look ahead of you, but look to the side to hide your smile, hearing as he gets closer to your side, his gaze lingering on you before he spoke again. “I really am sorry for last night.”

At the sound of those words your smile falls and you swallow thickly as you think of what you told him. You didn’t want to say it, but you also did. Again you were stuck. Or as he pointed out, it was your morality. Pesky thing—you sigh and again meet his gaze, noticing this time the brown of his eyes, noticing the way he had his attention on you. It didn’t waver, nor did he just do something else, he was genuinely listening; “I’m sorry for what I said, I shouldn’t have said those things to you, I’m sorry.”

Poe surprisingly chuckled before he responded to your comment, “see again. Your morality. Don’t apologize. You don’t have to.”

“You just did.” You quickly remark.

He shrugs nonchalantly, “because I meant it.”

You lean in closer to him to reply, “and I meant mine.” His gaze stays locked on yours and the room falls in silence as tension builds. Something that lasted for a long moment, whilst neither of you broke the gaze, nor the silence. Poe leaned in closer and you stayed where you were, letting him for awhile until you snapped from your stupor, furrowing your eyebrows and turning away, clearing your throat before you broke the never-ending silence. “You never told me what you wanted.”

“I just wanted to talk, unless you want to go back to your room?”

You deadpan, “no.”

“Exactly,” he pauses and faces the sunset again, letting for a moment silence cover this room as he seemed to debate on what he wanted to say. Or more like, if he actually wanted to say it. He breathed in and slowly exhaled out, his words quieter but still seeming to remain that cockiness in his demeanor. “Why do you still call me..that?”

You blink and instantly know what he’s referring to. “What? Poe?” He nods stiffly and you shrug, “because that’s who you are...to me anyway.” You take a brief glance at him and continue, “I see you and you’re still the guy I met eight years ago. Not Nomad. Poe. Of course when you have that ugly helmet on all I see is Nomad and I want just stab my lightsaber through your chest—not like I won’t do it without it; but I don’t know I just see your face and it just comes up.”

Poe stays quiet for a short moment until he adds as his eyes narrow to the point his eyelashes almost touch—“no one has called me that for a long time, not until you came.”

“I could try and call you by your other name if that’s what you want.”

He blinks and his head falls for a moment before he pushes his body off the railing and turns to you. His face changed and didn’t contain the same softness, it was hard and serious, just like his words were now blunt. “Come on, let’s go.” He extended his arm out and opened his palm to receive his helmet as he summoned it with the force, while with his other hand grabbing your arm as you pushed your body off the railing to face the door. It was an odd sudden change in demeanor, but you also didn’t try and question, you just let it happen.

Watched as the hues disappeared as Poe pulled you out of the room, letting the hall you were in be covered in darkness, only one light at the end where the lights of the big hall slightly peeked in. You let the tension filled silence blanket over the both of you again and felt as it grew thicker as Poe put his helmet over his head, covering everything that defined him as that, showing your reflection on the dark visor of the helmet that identified him as his usual dark persona, Nomad…

——

Ben,

I don’t know what’s going to happen to me, I’ve been here, taking in injections that mute my force connection on a daily basis. It feels like months, but it’s only been a few days. I don’t know what to do with myself, all I can do is sit and do nothing, or lay down and do nothing. I want to write to my dad, but the truth is I wouldn’t know what to say, I’ve sat for hours with the pen on the paper, not writing anything, just simply staring at it. I don’t think he even knows what’s happened to me...I hope he does, I hope he comes and

No. You crumble up the paper and throw it into the small bucket beside you, pulling out a new piece and simply looking down at it, sighing before you begin to quietly hum to the song playing on the radio, spinning the pen between your fingers to then hold it correctly and tap the the point on the paper, making only a dark dot of ink before you picked it up again and continued spinning it between your fingers. Glaring at the delicate white paper and loudly muttering your answer as you heard someone knock on the door, seeing seconds later the bright light cast followed by heavy footsteps that walked up behind you. Such a familiar sound now that you didn’t need to look back to know who it was.

“What are you doing?” Poe asked.

You smirked, “writing a secret note to the rest of the spies on this ship. ‘We attack at midnight, get the one with the over gelled hair first.’” You look over your shoulder and offer him a teasing grin, one that fell as he didn’t laugh and seemed to try and read your expression to see if you were serious. Which you weren’t. “It was a joke. Obviously.” You sigh, looking back to your unwritten letter.

“I knew that.” He breathed.

You huff, “Ben would’ve laughed.” you slump into the chair and throw the pen on the desk. “You need something or are you gonna stand there like a creep?”

You hear the material of his suit shift as he began to shift from one foot to the other, clearing his throat to add, “I’m finally done with my briefings today, would you like to come train with me and a couple of my troopers?”

You shrug, “I don’t know, I have things to do today—Like sulk on the couch and stare out the transparisteel for a few hours, take hours in the shower. Wishing I was breathing real air and uhh writing letters to my family in case Snoke kills me.” Poe scoffs as a response and just as you heard his lips part to counter your remark you stand from your chair and turn to face him to continue, “but I guess I can squeeze you into my busy schedule.” He doesn’t respond and just motions you to move after him, using no cuffs to take you out the door (surprisingly) and guide you down the brightly lit and grey empty hall. Walking in silence until he turned into the same room he had taken you the first time he brought you to train with him.

This time though it wasn’t lacking people, there wasn’t a lot but there was more than before. A selected few it seemed. Two females and three men, one who was Finn, actually—All collectively looking at Poe and you walk in. You look away and speed towards Finn, taking a seat on the empty seat next to him and ignoring the icy glare the pretty purple Mirlian was shooting at you.

“Here.” Finn said, handing you wrappings for your hands. “I’m surprised you’re here.”

You carefully take the wrappings from his hand and shrug, “your dear master Poe asked me to come, so it was either this or sulk in the room.” Finn hummed and slightly nodded, parting his lips to follow up on you calling the man he knew as Nomad, Poe, but getting interrupted by your questions. “Who are the four people here?”

“Oh,” his gaze turned to the mat a few feet away from the both of you and pointed with his eyes the two girls that were on it, beginning to train a hand on hand session. “The purple Mirlian is Odette, she's part of the squadron just like the rest here.” Your eyes once again land on the purple Mirlian, seeing the black geometric tattoos gently line her high cheekbones and decorate in a line under her thin lips while three were also drawn below each brown eye. She was really pretty and her body was very toned, showing how much she took care of her body. You'd compliment her if she weren’t staring daggers at you—“the other girl, the Lethan Twi’Lek is Sibyl, I wouldn’t talk to her, she can be a little...stuck up and egotistical, y’know, Nomad picking her to be part of his squadron got to her head.”

You chuckle and look at him, “I feel some hidden disliking towards her.”

Finn scoffs, “that doesn’t even do it justice.”

Finishing with the wrappings you place them on the bench and look towards the two male near human sentients in the back, both seeming to be in their own world, but making it easier for you to really study them, one of them in particular catching your eye and making your face fall. Before you could think too much of it, Finn noticed you looking at the guys and spoke up. “The other purple Mirlian with the buzz cut is Odette's twin brother, Otto. Again stuck up, but he’s a great shooter and very smart.” You hum and nod, noticing the same tattoos on his face that Odette had, but that was irrelevant compared to the chiss talking in front of him.

“Who’s the chiss?” You question, your eyes never leaving his tall stature.

“That’s Dario, he—”

“Why Princess, you interested?” Poe suddenly asked, poking his between Finn and you, looking to the man in question and then turning his head to look at you, making every part of his face be only mere inches from yours, causing you to slide further to the side of the bench and roll your eyes to answer bluntly.

“He just reminds me of someone I used to know.”

“Who?” Poe probed, sitting himself between Finn and you.

You look back to Dario and deadpan, “it doesn’t matter who.” Turning your head you meet Poe’s gaze, seeing a cocky smile on his face before he continues.

“Why don’t we spar like last time, hm? Bet I could take you down this time.”

One eyebrow quirks up and a smug smile threatens to show on your features, but doesn’t as Odette walks over and cuts you off. “Finn why don’t you come spar with me?” She smiled sweetly and twirled the end of her long dark ponytail with her finger. “I believe you owe me one match.”

Your eyes dart between Finn and the very smiley girl, your smile curling up regardless and only widening as Finn seemed to be clueless on her intentions, answering very calm and unbothered; “next time, I don’t feel like doing too much training today.”—Poe and you looked at one another and shared a look at Finns clueless behavior. It reminded you of Ben and how he would be with girls when he was younger, a trait that his mother said wasn’t picked up from his father or her. You couldn’t help but snicker.

“Oh,” she mouthed, her eyes losing their twinkle, “fine then.” Like that she turned back around and walked towards Sibyl, both whispering to one another before their attention just like yours was caught by the two sparing men on the mat. You cross your arms over your chest and sigh, rolling your eyes at their technique and moves, gaining Poe’s attention as he leaned over to whisper in your ear, feeling the skin of his shoulder touch yours, almost feeling his words as he talked in your ear. All it overall makes you freeze and hold onto your breath.

“What do you think? I trained them myself.” He pulls away, but his eyes are still trained on you, letting you turn your head to share your quip with a hidden smirk.

“They need work, just like the teacher.” You glance at them again and notice all things wrong in just a second. “Their stance is all wrong, you see their feet are too spread apart and they’re impatient with their movements, just like you. They—”

“Okay,” Poe cut you off, a hardened look on his face, “okay, I get it. If you’re so good, why don’t you fight against them, hot shot.”

You bite the inside of your cheek and unfold your arms to rest your hands on the bench, tilting your head Poe’s way to comment. “I wouldn’t want to hurt them too bad.”

“Since when have you been so cocky?”

You shrug nonchalantly and just as you were going to reply, a voice beside you startled you—this time instead of it being Poe, your eyes slid to the corner to see Rey’s head poke between Poe and you—what the hell is wrong with these people and getting so close?—you breathe heavily and slide away again, shooting Rey an annoyed look as she shot you a taunting smile.

“I’ll spar with you. If you fight anything like your cousin it should be a good match.” She provoked you, looking only at you with the same smile, batting her eyelashes as she did so. “What do you say...I’ll let you fight with one of my lightsabers while I fight with the other.”

“Rey.” Poe hissed beside her. “Don’t.”

Said girl was unbothered and lifted her eyebrow as she pulled out her lightsabers and pulled them apart for them to become twin sabers, lifting one hand to bait you with it. “I’ll tell you what, you win and I’ll let you go back to your cousin. Something tells me he might not be doing so good without his hope of light.”

Your eyes drift to the sabers and then up to her, narrowing your gaze and not believing a word she said, but feeling your hand still go towards it instinctively.

“Rey.” Poe called again. “I’m telling you, stop.”

“Shut it.” She snapped, her gaze not bothering to turn to him as she continued trying to convince you. “I promise I’ll let you go.”

Inhaling deeply you think, fuck it and snatch a hilt from her hand, jumping to your feet and noticing the fighting had stopped on the mats and all four of them were grouped together watching Rey and you intently, a hint of fear and cursisoty in their eyes—you on the other hand felt fine, you had this, it’s no different than sparing with Ben or any of the ghosts jedi. This was the same...or so you tried to convince yourself.

Taking the hoodie off your body, you threw it on the bench leaving yourself in a black tank top and basic leggings. A comfortable outfit, but you usually preferred your tunic, much warmer; Regardless you follow Rey to the mat, standing with your back facing Finn and Poe, whilst you got into your usual fighting form, igniting the saber in your hand and seeing the red blade emit from within the hilt. Noticing the same thing with Rey, her own red blade basking her face as she ignited it, hearing nothing else but the lightsabers usual hum.

Spinning the lightsaber in your hand you watch her intently, seeing the same smugness on her face as she holds onto her saber, gripping onto it tightly. Unlike Poe, she’s more patient with her movements, waiting to see what you’d do. Watching as the corner of your lips tug into a smirk as you eyed her, making her hastily rush towards you and swing her lightsaber at you, quickly causing you to duck and do a spin trick that caused you to have your back on the intent audience and see Poe and Finn behind Rey, Finn showing more fear for your fight than Poe was. You shoot them a small smirk before flipping the saber in your hand, holding onto it with a reverse grip like Ahsoka did, moving your stance to be ready to block Rey like Ahsoka and your grandfather had taught you to do. Doing as they or at least Ahsoka and master Kenobi said, wait.

“Red is really not my color, but I’m getting to like your lightsaber.” You remark, making Rey respond with silence as she watched you, patiently, gripping onto her hilt and beginning to move around, her eyes following you as you moved with her, moving the position of your arms.

“I think I’m going to switch my training partner with you instead. You’re much more fun.”

You scoff and barely catch as she moves to lunge forward, causing you to quickly do a backhand swing and meet the red blade with hers, a bright red spark emitting from the impact. The hues of the red blades showing the amusement that had disappeared from her face with the clash. She tries to push you back, but you dig your heels into the mat and stay grounded, using your strength to slightly pull back but suddenly push back with more added force. Missing your force abilities now even more—Rey stumbles, making the perfect chance for you to raise your foot and kick her back, causing her to crash on the mat and roll to the edge of it, her back on the material and her eyes focused on the ceiling. The action creating an even more tense silence.

Carefully you stalk forward with the saber raised, seeing her chest rise up and go down heavily, her chest beginning to heave as a soft but angry growl leaves her lips. She gripped onto her hilt with a death grip that made her skin turn even whiter, before she jumped back up and looked at you with a burning glare. You swallowed thickly at the sight and moved back as she moved forward, a nasty smirk growing on her face before she spoke up. “I talked with your cousin Ben, recently.” Your eyes widen and the grip on the lightsaber in your hand loosens at the news. Rey notices and continues, “he seems very distraught, seems the search for you might be over, since he thinks you're dead….sorry.” She feigns to be hurt and plays to be innocent. All while your whole body freezes.

No—Your eyes water out of anger, but your body doesn’t react, your mind doesn’t fully react, it feels more numb. Beside the anger that is. You knew what the news could do to Ben. He struggled, he always has, hearing that won’t do him good, you knew that. He needed you and you weren’t there. Rey on the other hand took advantage of your moment of weakness and lunged forward, making Finn yell out your name to snap you from your stupor. And reacting with the wrong move. Instead of raising the lightsaber, you lifted your free hand to try and use the force to stop her movements, but coming out empty as it was impossible with that certain ability muted. Ultimately causing Rey to force throw you back harshly, letting her come before you, her legs on either side of your body as the tip of her blade went down to hover over your throat. A mischievous and proud smirk growing on her face, “looks like I’ll be seeing more of you. Good.”

Rey offered her hand to you whilst she deactivated her lightsaber, but you being in the heated anger you were, ignored and slid back to push yourself off the floor by yourself. Noticing the people that were still here now move to do their own thing, pretending as if nothing had just happened. All while you handed Rey back her lightsaber and stormed over to Finn, ignoring both Poe and Finn's stare. Hearing as Rey added one more comment. “Oh, Snoke said he wanted to talk to you. Nomad too.”

——

Breathing out heavily you hear the tremble in your breath, but ignore it as you focus your eyes on the passing red colors as the elevator goes up into Snokes throne room. Feeling like you did last time you saw him, a cold chill run down your spine. A shiver on your skin and dooming feeling at the pit of your stomach. Now more than ever you hoped Ahsoka, or your grandfather, or master Kenobi would appear to be a comfort in this unexpected meeting with a man that you didn’t like, that if you didn’t lie scared you.

“He’s not going to do it.” Nomad said to you as his arm hovered over yours—you just briefly glanced at him from the corner of your eye and didn’t answer, hearing your breath hitch and your body go stiff just like Nomad gripped onto your arm with a stiff hold as the elevator stopped and the doors flew open moments later. The dimly red room coming to view and a much colder chill running all over your body. You didn’t try to move, but Nomad pulled you forward, forcing you to move regardless, forcing you to see Snoke sit on his big fancy throne, an evil smile brewing on his face as he saw you walk in.

“My girl,” Snoke boomed, “I hope your stay is going well and that my apprentice is treating you kindly.” He waved his hand and the cuffs on your wrists fell. A surprising move to say the least. Just like the venom in his voice as he directed his comment to nomad. “Take that ridiculous thing off.” Not hesitating, said man did so, pulling the black helmet off his head, his head quickly going back to its previous bowing position. You watched, that’s all you could do, noticing Poe’s long expression as he stayed on one knee, only hearing as Snoke got up from his seat and walked over to you both. Mainly you, voicing a cold chilling voice one word as he moved. “Hope.”

You blinked and kept your eyes glued on Snoke as he continued moving, continued speaking, “what a funny thing. Many desire to get an inkling of it, to feel what that truly feels like.” He moves forward until he stops a few inches before you, towering over you whilst he grabs the charm hanging from your chain with his long white fingers, chuckling when he sees you swallow thickly; “while you, so gracefully cling onto it like your life depended on it.”

Your gaze narrows and you manage to straighten your shoulders, responding in a cold voice that matches his. “Hope like my aunt Leia says, is like the sun you see. If you only believe in it when you see it, you’ll never make it through the night.” Your lips curl into a smile and you fully meet his icy gaze when he lets the charm drop, “I plan to make it through, whatever you might want to throw at me you’ll never see me fall because of that hope I believe in. Or as you say cling onto.”

Snoke chuckles, “wise. Hmm, so wise. I’m impressed.” He walks back and his eyes never leave yours, “but I know where your perfect persona falters my girl. As much hope as you may have, I see it, sense it. Fear.” He begins to walk towards you, but passes you, making you turn to see him, noticing as he turns to gesture for you to follow. His eyes drifting to Poe as he stood up as well, throwing him a quick order not seconds after. “Stay boy. I’ll talk with you later.” You look over your shoulder to see Poe simply and stiffly nod, his eyes avoiding yours before you completely turned away and had to follow after Snoke, feeling a small sense of pity for Snokes way of talking to Poe. It was so cold and bitter, nothing like how he talked to you. It made you wonder how he talks to Rey? Kind or bitter?

However it was, you had to leave those thoughts behind as you continued to walk beside Snoke as he led you to a different hidden door, that led to a hall that looked like all the others, grey and brightly lit. Only this hall on Snokes right side there was transparisteel lining all down the long hall. Getting a view at the stars of space. A view you cherished the more you were here. It was silent and peaceful, nothing like being by Snoke or hearing him continue speaking as if he knew you—“I knew what you fear, Skywalker.”

You shake your head and scoff, answering bitterly, “you know nothing about me.”

“You’re afraid to lose people like he was.”

You gulp and your confident demeanor falters.

“Your grandfather. The great Anakin Skywalker. The chosen one.” He pauses and tries to see if you would respond, but once he notices your silence he continues, “but as hopeful and great as he was, he feared just like you. Feared to lose the people he loved just like you. Feared not being able to help them.” The both of you walk into a darker hall, one lit by red lights instead of the usual white, where the only source of bright lights is from the outside of the transparisteel; Where the view is replaced by showing the inside of this ship instead of the stars. Adding to your chills and adding to the dooming, dark tempting voice he was using as he continued to explain when he and you came to a stop; “what if I told you that you didn’t have to lose your loved ones anymore. Not Ben solo, not your father. Not like how you lost your brother Jacen Skywalker.”

Your breath hitches at the sound of his name and at the offer Snoke tempted you with. You knew what he was saying was a lie, just trying to tempt you to go towards the dark side, but there was something within you that couldn’t help but ask. “What could you offer me?”

Your hear Snokes lips turn to a wicked smile as he gestures his hand so you could look out the window. Your eyes drift to where his pale hand is pointing to, seeing the transparisteel, knowing he was pointing to what is shown behind it. You walk forward and see the platform below, filled with squadrons of stormtroopers, all neatly lined up, listening to what their general said. Raising their fists all at once as they felt their inspiration at the words.

“Everything.” Snokes voice echoed behind you, seeing his reflection casted on the transparisteel as he stood closely behind you and asked, “have you heard of the Tragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise?”

Tagged- @thescarletknight2014 , @softly-sad , @golden-guide , @abysshaven , @a-dorky-book-keeper , @kit-jpg , @mybarnesmyhero

Permanent taglist- @ms-dont-care , @commondazy , @paintballkid711

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lilylilie001 · 4 years

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“Old Friends Not Forgotten” Review and Analysis

Spoilers for Star Wars: The Clone Wars S07E09

If you are interested in my reactions while watching the episode click here

If you want to read my rant about the thing that made my cry the most in this episode click here (disclaimer: I was still crying while writing this and that may have clouded my opinion about the scene. In this review I will go into more detail about that)

So then let’s get started! I have calmed down and feel now emotionally ready to actually interpret and analyse the scenes and not just bring across my emotions. But this still is only my personal opinion! So if you disagree that is fine, just please don’t be mean about it.

So the first scene we get is a parallel to the movie (aka the first arc of TCW) which I think is a pretty amazing idea. It shows how Anakin and Obi-Wans relationship has changed and how it has stayed the same. Anakin is as cocky and arrogant as ever. But this time he is not Obi-Wans student anymore. He leads his own men with his own plan and is just coming from his own solo-mission. Yes he wasn’t Obi-Wans Padawan in the movie and Rex was under his command back the too but their dynamic was still different. He still sees Obi-Wan as his former Teacher and as a Jedi Master and part of the counsel he is technically still above Anakin, but they act more on an eye-to-eye dynamic. More like brothers than father and son.

Anakin uses a smiliar trick as Obi-Wan did back in the movie. (I don’t know how the Republic and the Separatists handle that but it is considered a war crime in our world... Since Obi-Wan did it and never got called out for it I guess it is okay in their world...) But of course Anakin puts his own spin on it. That is I think a pretty good way to show how Anakin learned from his master. He did watch and listen but he is not like Obi-Wan. He likes to do things his way. And as long as it works he won’t stop.

Their friendly banter in this scene is also really in tune with the way they act with each other in the beginning of ROTS (especially in the deleted scenes). So it is not hard to believe that this takes place only days before.

Before Anakin does his own thing Obi-Wan says: “I know better than to try and stop you.” I really liked this line. Not only because it was funny but also because for me it had a bit of an bitter aftertaste. He does not approve of Anakin’s actions (or methods to be exact) but he doesn’t do anything about them. Anakin is an adult and Obi-Wan is done with his education but his former padawan is far away from being a Jedi Master.

Then we have the first moment with Rex. Again a beautiful example of their dynamic. The other clones do what Anakin say (they have to) but they also are a bit annoyed by their general and his plan. Rex on the other had has Anakin’s back, as usual. And he motivates his men to follow Anakin. The trust these two have in each other is just beautiful! Rex trust that Anakin knows what he is doing and Anakin trust that Rex is taking care that everything works. I am pretty sure Rex wasn’t given more than a few instructions haha

Anakins plan works and he learns nothing except that he was right. Again. I am not gonna go into to much detail about Obi-Wan and Cody but I will say this. As usual they care about and trust each other. Cody is like a friend and not just some clone to Obi-Wan and knowing that makes Cody picking up Obi-Wans lightsaber in a few weeks so logical. Also it makes Order 66 as usual even sadder.

I can’t help but feel that is episode feels like part of a movie. The opening battle. Very Star Wars. That would also explain the new intro and outro. A very nice ending to the show. Staring with a bad movie, finishing with good one. All in all this episode really played on nostalgia about the TCW Movie and I love it!

Okay back to the episode.

Ahsoka used the name Fulcrum for her transmission. It is a nice callback to Rebels and to the Ahsoka Novel. But with the republic (for example Yularen who becomes a impirial officer) knowing that she uses that name it feels like a bit risky to me to use it in the rebelion as a code name... Maybe I am thinking to much about that but yeah I had to write that thought down. Also Anakin first thinks it is Saw Gerrera, so that means he came up with that name? This just confused me...

So now I going to try to fangirl not to much about Anakins reaction to Ahsoka, which is hard. But I am going to talk about it because it is very important for his character. I personally don’t remember the last time I saw Anakin this happy. Ahsoka coming back into his life is for him obviously a thing he had wanted and hoped for for a long time. But at the same time he is so surprised that it happened.

The next feeling he goes through is concern. He is just immediately concerned about her and the reason she is contacting him. Perfect Anakin moment. He loves his adoptive daughter and of course he is scared about her wellbeing. He is Anakin! He always scared about the women in his life. So having this poking out under his happiness was a good call.

Obi-Wan on the other hand is just surprised. And Ahsoka herself is very distant. (gonna go into detail about that in a second)

The talk Obi-Wan and Anakin have while walking to Ahsoka’s ship is also very interesting. You can see Anakin trying to find a reason for her leaving. Like it is the will of the force. Meanwhile Obi-Wan has a mixture of quilt and anger. He was partly responsible for Ahsoka being kicked out of the order and therefor also for her not returning. But it also feels like he is mad at her for not retuning. Maybe (that thought had just crossed my mind) he is angry at her for breaking Anakin’s heart. After all Obi-Wan had to piece him together again. (There is an unfinished scene form the original 7th season were they talk about Ahsoka.) And now he feels like she should not be let off the hook just like that.

Or he really just angry that she left the order that he believes in.

Again we have a nice callback to the movie. I really love those. They feel fitting.

R2D2 is just amazing as usual and greets his masters daughter like a good boy.

Ahsokas face goes through so much in a matter of seconds. She looks at R2: happy. She looks up at her former masters: scared and unsure. She takes a step: confident. That is genius! I especially love that little moment of fear in her eyes. It makes so much sense when you look at her in the rest of the episode! And I personally think that it is Obi-Wan that she is cold towards. I think she has not forgiven him at all for his part in her trial. And she is not at all ready to face him. But she puts on a brave face because she has a mission bigger than her.

At first when she stopped Anakin I was a bit upset but i get it now. She does not want to have this in front of Obi-Wan and Bo-Katan. Anakin staying behind for a second and putting himself together again is also really fitting I think. He was so excited to see her and she is cold towards him. He either does not see that it is not about him or he feels the tension between her and Obi-Wan.

Anakin again becomes worried dad when she mentions Oba Diah. And it feels like she would want to tell Anakin but she has Bo-Katan next to her and Obi-Wan in front of her so she doesn’t. She also seems surprised that he still cares so much about her. I think she expected him to be a upset with her and not as open and happy as he is. (Maybe that was why she looked scared in the scene before...)

“What is one more?” This sentence is big. I mean yes Bo-Katan is not a friend of the Jedi and not a friend of Obi-Wan. But it also kinda shows the overall frustration with the Republic and the Jedi in the galaxy.

Anakin lighting the mood with a joke...that is just pre-Vader Ani at his finest!

Bo-Katan is not wrong in this scene but after everything she had done to sabotage Satine she should really get down form her high horse here!

You can just feel the tension leaving the room when Anakin and Ahsoka are alone. They start to banter and she immediately smiles. These two have still so much love for each other and truly enjoy each others company. But after that there is this small moment of silence. Again perfect moment. It just shows that regardless of that there is baggage here.

While walking down that corridor Anakin acts like a worried dad again. “It doesn’t matter to them. It is a sign of respect. They know what you went trough for them day after day. Battle after battle.” I choose to believe that he is also talking about him self when saying that. It is his way of telling her that he is proud of her. I don’t think she picks it up but the way he talks about it...that is his opinion of her for sure!

The Helmets...I just love them. I am not going to talk about them much. Their meaning is obvious and this is getting really long. I will also skip Rex for now (don’t worry he will get his paragraphs) same with the lightsabers.

Ahsokas face...she just feels proven right about the Jedi...

So I am not sure if Anakin’s worry is about Padme or the Chancelor. I mean they talk about the chancelor and he is close to him. But he looks really worried so maybe Padme?

Ahsokas and Obi-Wan argument. The scene is amazing! I have to say that. It showed their morals pretty perfectly and both are kinda right. Again the tension between them makes sense. It still hurts to watch it.

But also Anakin standing between them awkwardly is kinda fitting with his arc. He is so happy this whole episode that it is hard to see ROTS Ani but I think it still ads up. He knows they are both right. The war has to be won but also Mandalore needs help.

“Unfortunately Ahsoka is no longer a part of the grand army of the republic.” That one sentence made so mad at Obi-Wan. Yeah, he is technically just saying a fact but his attitude. He is partly responsible for that he takes no blame! Even Ahsokas reaction is just like: Are you kidding me right now? She just looks at him for a second and she looks so disappointed and hurt.

And Obi-Wan, he continues to look at her after she looked away and I don’t know but I see a bit of regret in eyes.

So apparently Anakin can promote Rex just like that. Don’t know why he never did it before. I mean we all know Rex would deserve it. But better later than never, right?

Interestingly enough the tension between Ahsoka and Obi-Wan is gone so quickly. It is fare away from their friendship in previous seasons but still. There is respect there again.

Of course Obi-Wan has to make a Kenobi joke before leaving. That really made me forgive him, at least a bit.

“Thanks for the support, as always.” I have not nothing to add to this sentence. Ahsoka’s words nailed the point I want to make about Anakin in this scene.

Okay now on to the lightsabers. Two things. First, he must have had them with him on the whole siege! So that means that Anakin Skywalker kept her lightsabers with him at all time to either remind him of her or just in case she came back to him! Yeah, attachment is problem with this boy...

Secondly...they are blue. All of Ahsokas lightsabers are green up to this point. So he either got her knew crystals or he played with them so much that the took on his lightsaber color. I don’t know what to say about that.

Ahsoka rolling her eyes at his braging is just wholesome. Nothing more to add there.

I really love their dynamic when they are alone. It is so pure and happy and loving...

“Good thing I taught you otherwise.” So again a sentence with so much meaning. Filoni just loves throwing these in there, right? Let’s analyse it (bc that is the purpose of the post after all). With this sentence he basically tells her that it is okay to disagree with Obi-Wan and that he is not holding it against her in any way. He himself does it. Especially with the scene from before in mind that is so powerful.

We have heard a multiple of Jedis saying that luck doesn’t exist so Anakin saying that shows he does not care about what the order thinks is right. He has his own right and wrong. For now that is not problematic but we all know who that ends...

And that means he tells her he raised a good person and not necessarily a good Jedi in her. (it is really late, my english is no longer working properly) Hopefully I got my point across.

The way Ahsokas stands in this shot... She is not a little girl anymore. She is a fighter. A warrior.

“Anakin! Good luck.”

I really have to take all my strength to stay calm while writing this. I don’t want this to be too emotional.

So. Okay. *takes a deep breath* Ahsokas last words she ever says to Anakin Skywalker. The next time she talks to him he is Vader. Good words. Less than I personally wanted but good words.

After what he told her before it is just so poetic. She wants the best for him. She wants him to be lucky. To succeed. But after what he said it is more. So much more. It is a rejection of the Jedi and an embrace of the light force. And... Damn with everything that is going to happen in ROTS having Ahsoka telling him words that the Jedi reject is just...

Moving on before I lose my mind. We still have Rex to cover.

Anakin and Ahsoka think they will see each other again. They think that they will win and be together again and then they can figure out what to do about everything. About them. About the Jedi. About Obi-Wan.They have no idea what the future has in store for them. And it is perfect. I aligns perfectly with other star wars media. ROTS, Rebels, Ahsoka Novel. They don’t hug. They don’t say goodbye. I hate it but it is perfect.

I love that Rex got promoted but he is gonna be Captain Rex for me forever. Captain or Sir. But he really does deserve his promotion!

Because this is really long already I will not talk about Bo-Katan and the Mandalorians but focus on Ahsoka and the Clones.

We get an amazing banter between Rex and Ahsoka were Ahsoka proves that she is Anakins Padawan after all and that she has Skywalker energy. It is really amazing to see her in her element again. She can use the force whenever she wants and kicks ass! This really was her childhood.

And then she saves a Clones because that is what Ahsoka Tano does. She knows casualties are a part of war but she saves who she can.

Rex is so happy to have her back! He smiles and smiles just like Anakin. And just like with Anakin Ahsoka is so relaxed with Rex. They are her home!

I just love the cinematography of her fighting. It really is just watching a Star Wars movie. I can’t wait to watch the whole arc in one go!

“Beat you.” “Some things never change.” Wholesome. This is just wholesome.

Okay so that is it for me. I know there is still Maul and Bo-Katan to cover but I will talk about them after next episode!

But I will say this in conclusion: This is episode was stunning! Like everything was beautiful and meaningfull and thought out and detailed! I truly love this episode! I already watched it three times today. And I am so amazed by the animations! The characters facial expressions were on point! I had so much fun analysing them!

I hope that was interesting to read and honestly I am surprised if anyone got this far. Anyway I really loved watching the episode again frame by frame and note my thoughts (this took me 6h btw)

#tcw #sw #the clone wars #star wars #tcw s7 #tcw season 7 #old friends not forgotten #tcw spoiler #tcw s07e09 #episode analysis #star wars the clone wars #ahsoka tano #anakin skywalker #obi wan kenobi #captain rex #bo-katan kryze #the clone wars season 7 #siege of mandalore

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capricornus-rex · 3 years

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A Shadow of What You Used to Be (5)

Chapter 5: Lingering Grief | Cal Kestis x Irele Skywalker

Requested by Anon

Summary: There is another! Years after young Anakin Skywalker departed Tatooine, his mother Shmi delivers a second child—this time, a daughter. Whilst the circumstance of the girl’s birth remains unexplained, Irele Skywalker has yet to choose the true path between those laid out for her.

Tags: Fem! OC, Irele Skywalker, Force-sensitive! OC, Anakin’s Younger Sister, Skywalker! OC, Darth Vader’s Secret Apprentice, Long-lost Sibling

Also in AO3

Chapters: Prelude – 1 – 2 – 3 | Previous: Part 4 | Next: Part 6 | Masterlist

6 of ?

“I love… Love…” Shmi choked before she succumbed to death, never able to complete the simplest yet most important of phrases.

Anakin’s shaky fingers closed his mother’s eyes. The pang of grief was quickly overtaken by an unquenchable vengeance.

A heavy, ominous darkness blankets the Tusken encampment. The guards outside Shmi’s tent barely had a reaction time to the ignition of Anakin’s lightsaber; when they had turned around after the flaps of the tent hit their sleeve, they were cut down without the hesitation of a moment.

Alarmed by the attack, the Tuskens untied their massiffs—their reptilian guard dogs—and unleashed those hounds on Anakin, before advancing to attack the intruding Jedi themselves. The rage and grief seething within him was weaponized, it had amplified his swordsmanship; however, it made his movements raggedy, uncalculated, and unbecoming of his practiced lightsaber form. He planted his feet on the ground while he kept his eyes straight on the enemy. Or were they at all?

One after another, the Tuskens came at him—cycler rifles and staves brandished in the air—and were instantaneously felled, not even allowed to have a swing of their own weapons. One of them alerted the snipers who were in the perimeter of the encampment, supposedly on patrol; many of them went for the encampment, attempting to give support in the skirmish, but they were quickly losing—despite outnumbering the Jedi to fifty or so.

When push comes to shove, a number of the females braved and took up arm to fight off this murderous trespasser—who’s cutting them by the numbers. In their native tongue, they urged one another to join the ranks and charge. The women joined the fray, amongst the males, while some other females—particularly mothers—scurried with their young into their tents for safety. Now, the latter caught Anakin’s attention.

Anakin cut through the Tuskens’ defenses, man and woman alike, and sliced down the mothers first then their children next, sometimes the other way around. The wounded but living mothers howled in the night, carrying their children—grown and newborn—sorrowfully wailing, praying to their deities to deliver them mercy from this agony. And that exact deliverance came in the form of a blinding blue beam of light. However, their granted prayers were not of mercy, but of an unquenchable hatred, more like a punishment—from a certain point of view.

But then again, does the way of death matter?

He proceeded to finish off the stragglers, many of them fatally injured and are just scrambling on the sand with one hand extended in a pleading gesture. In their eyes, Anakin appeared to them like an executioner—with the campfire at his back, tracing his unhooded silhouette, and a cyan beam illuminating his distorted features. That was the final thing they ever saw before their bodies met the lightsaber, a noble weapon now used for an atrocious annihilation.

That night, Anakin never discriminated. He killed not only the men, but the women, and the children, too. He left nothing in his wake but death and destruction.

–

In the middle of it all, a chill wraps around Irele over her shoulders. She thought it strange, it’s only the first few hours of nightfall—where it’s usually warm at that time of the day and the cold gradually creeps in. The cold was dramatically different from the desert breeze at dusk. It crawled along her arms, then snaked over her spine and the small of her back, forcing her to pause from her pastime of creating beaded and woven crafts—a hobby she picked up from Shmi.

“What’s wrong, Irele?” asked Beru, mending a scarf in the common room.

“Is it just me or has it gotten unusually colder?”

Beru’s eyes flicked to the side, paused to feel a draft, and then shrugged. She was wearing a short-sleeved tunic paired with her long skirt. She would have felt the same as Irele, but she didn’t. When the older girl noted the uneasiness in Irele’s expression, she stood up and patted her forehead.

“Are you alright, Irele? You don’t seem to have a fever.”

“No, but I guess it was just a funny feeling. Maybe heatstroke.”

“Irele, we’re all too used to the heat here to get a heatstroke,” Beru chuckled. “If any, we’d get one if we were in a volcanic planet!”

The girls shared a chuckle with the lighthearted joke, which may have distracted Irele for a bit until she eventually dismissed it as indeed a funny feeling, but only for a second.

She had been waiting for Anakin—along with their mother—to come home, but given that they lack the whereabouts of this Tusken band, she though perhaps he had asked the locals along the way, like Jawas and vagabonds. When the hours have passed, the night had grown darker, Irele had no choice but to sleep on it.

In her bed, the cold persisted. She pulled up her blanket—her favorite one for it was handmade by her mother—until it covered her up to her nose, exposing her only from the eyes up. She tried closing her eyes, but her lids twitched, begging to be opened. Lying flat on her back, facing the ceiling, staring at the stone ceiling, she wondered and imagined where Anakin and Shmi would be.

“Mom… I hope he brings you home safely.”

More thoughts coaxed into Irele’s mind. They’re hopeful thoughts. Behind her eyes, she’d visualize Shmi in the kitchen, whipping up a favorite meal of hers, and she’d insist on helping. Both of them would sew together, making whatever garment they choose. All that wishful thinking lulled the girl to sleep, blissfully unaware of the chaos that her own brother had wrought.

The next morning, the sound of the speeder made Irele drop everything and run to the porch.

Her hopes from last night were shattered when she saw Anakin riding the speeder alone and all he brought with him was a fully swaddled body. Her felt her heart drop her stomach, and she watched in silence as Anakin carried the corpse and glowered at the Lars family and then to Padmé. He brushed past them, and then in the corner of his eye, he caught his little sister staring. Irele standing there stopped him in his tracks, then his glower softened into a look of shame—one that says he didn’t fulfill his promise to her. Just one day of meeting her, he lets go of a promise, and fails it.

He didn’t know what to say to her. She let him know that he didn’t need to, for she turned tail and ran back inside.

Irele helped in the preparation of the grave, but for the rest of the activity, she did not speak. She did not maintain eye contact with anyone. The only interaction she’s ever had was with C3PO when she needed help on something, but not even he received a gaze from his young mistress.

She dusted her hands together, and dismissed herself.

“I’m going inside. I want a drink.” she told to no one in particular, but her father and brothers acknowledged it.

She was in the kitchen, just through the small doorway past the dining table, helping herself to a glass of juice. She sat in the seat nearest the door and just stared at the glass filled with a clear, apricot-colored liquid, tracing the rim of the glass with her finger, occasionally sipping it—for once, the sweet fruit juice tasted watery and bland, she finished the glass nonetheless, though reluctantly.

During her drinking, she had sensed Anakin walking into the workshop as she heard even the more careful of clinking of metal hitting the table. She remained silent, though he could sense her there, he just chose not to disturb her and rather make himself busy with fixing things. Next, she heard Padmé’s soft and kindly voice, a stark contrast to Anakin’s steely tone.

“Are you hungry?”

“The shifter broke,” he completely avoided her question.

Their conversation went on, with Anakin struggling to keep away from the grief that lingered in him.

“But I couldn’t…” he trailed. “Why’d she have to die? Why couldn’t I save her? I know I could have!”

Then he tasted something sour, not realizing that he had bitten the inside of his cheek and it bled. The walls listened and told everything to Irele, who’s still drawing invisible lines on her glass. Much later, she jolted when Anakin responded to Padmé’s fact with a loud frustration.

“Well, I should be!”

“I will be the most powerful Jedi ever!”

Irele continued to listen in, though Anakin’s behavior frightened her, and she had already come out of the dining room and hid behind the wall before the workshop’s archway.

“And I promise you: I will even learn to stop people from dying!”

Taken aback by the bold claim, she thought it impossible and dismissed it as wishful thinking clouded by unrealistic ambitiousness. Again, Irele heard more of Anakin’s roaring, this time blaming someone by the name of Obi-Wan of holding him back. She just continued to listen, hoping to find a way to empathize with her brother, but she found it difficult when he’s so flooded primarily of hatred and anger than sorrow and grief.

“Ani, what’s wrong?” Padmé cooed, attempting to break through his walls.

Anakin looked down on his hands, the very hands that held and swung the sword as he passed on his sentence to the Tuskens. They’re still red from the overly-tightened grip of his saber from last night. There were bruises too, little nicks that he didn’t notice during the genocide. The tears have dried, leaving glossy streaks on his defined cheekbones. His nostrils flared as he gasped for air, when the realization was slowly creeping up to him. He choked as he sighed.

“I killed them… I killed them all…” he repeated. Then swung to face Padmé. “They’re dead. Every single one of them…”

Padmé stared at him, dead frozen on where she stood. Her fingers unfeeling. Irele heard those very words from her own brother’s mouth and she could have sworn she felt her heart pause from beating. Her stomach tightened after every following word.

“And not just the men. But the women… and the children too!”

Irele’s knees nearly failed her as they lost their strength. Her heart felt heavy like an anchor. She silenced a gasp when she brought her hand to her mouth.

“They’re like animals. And I slaughtered them like animals! I hate them!”

Horrified of the unimaginable, completely unnecessary carnage her brother had wrought, she ran away from the workshop; the sound of her boots lightly scraping against the sand and metal as her heels sprang Anakin’s ears pricked up, but he was too preoccupied with his grief that he dismissed it as nothing. Irele sprints to her bedroom. For a moment, it didn’t sound like her brother was the one talking—she heard the words of a monster in the guise of a man.

Her hands trembled uncontrollably that she cannot even hold something with two fingers. She finally allowed herself to melt to the floor, and she cannot fathom how much violence and damage that Anakin left in his wake upon retrieving their mother. That night, Irele could not sleep; she waited for everyone to have fallen asleep and attempted to sneak out of the house to visit Shmi’s headstone again. They had buried Shmi already, Irele helped too, but Cliegg was too cautious of the nightfall that he insisted on setting the funeral tomorrow morning where it’s safer; of course, his son and stepdaughter agreed to it, Anakin didn’t have much of a choice. He stole a glimpse of Irele, who kept her vision forward; when she would turn to an angle where she’d have to face Anakin she kept her eyes on the ground, and would look in front when she’s gained distance from everyone else.

She and her own biological brother lack the comfort and warmth as siblings would share—especially in such a harrowing experience like losing a parent.

She’d rather prefer the comfort of a stone.

Settling herself on the sand, her handwoven scarf—made by her mother, no less—wrapping her little body from her desert chill, she spoke to Shmi’s headstone.

“Hi, Mom…” she sadly started. Unable to find the next, proper words, she had a silent moment in front of the grave, and rocked back and forth for a bit. “He’s quite taller than I expected. Though, I should’ve seen it coming. He is my big brother, after all.” She huffed out an awkward chuckle.

She scribbled on the sand and then would start over by brushing it with a single sweep of her hand. This would repeat as she spoke openly to the gravestone. For every passing moment, the tone of her voice would grow more somber and quieter, lacking the strength to let out another word than simply letting it go and cry.

“You know, he told me that he’d bring you home—but I never expected it to be in this way.”

There was a bitter taste in her mouth, she clicked her tongue, “He promised.”

No answer, of course. Nevertheless, the girl continued. Already yearning for her mother’s embrace.

“Had I known… I already had that feeling…! I should’ve come with you. I may be little but… You never doubted me. Thanks to that, I knew—I really knew—that I could fight them off, even for just a bit. If I did, I would have protected you. Then they never would have taken you away from me. I would have bought us time to escape… I would have called Dad and Owen—or anyone—for help.”

She hiccuped, picking up what’s left of her failing confidence, “I would have saved you.”

That wishful thinking then led her to finally releasing the tears she had been holding back all day.

“I miss you so much already, Mommy…”

Not even the warmth of her woven scarf blanketing her would be enough of a stand-in for Shmi’s hugs. It will never be. Being the only memory of her mother, it’s only a fragment of what Irele will remember of her.

She went to sleep quite late, understandably so.

–

The morning of the funeral, as promised, occurred. Cliegg gave his eulogy first, Irele had her turn on her eulogy next—she had not much to say, for she had already said everything in private last night—though she cannot be moved from where she knelt, then Anakin got on his knees right next to her.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t there to save you, Mom, and I hope you can forgive me too, for breaking my promise to my sister.”

Irele craned her head to her side but quickly withdrew it, facing the grave again.

The funeral was interrupted when the white and blue astromech droid R2D2 came to bear news. Padmé and Anakin prepared to retreat to the silver starship meters away from the homestead.

“Come with me,” Anakin whispered, he sounded demanding even in a low voice.

Irele attempted to harden her voice, to convey the conviction of her decision, “My place is here, Anakin. Like it or not, they’re my family. I can’t leave them.”

Anakin’s head bobbed downwards, and then the unexpected happened—in an attempt to comfort one another, both Irele and Anakin planted their hands on each other’s shoulders; he gave her small shoulder a tight squeeze, hers was gentle and somewhat faltering as if the toll of Shmi’s death has only begun to sink into her.

“May the Force be with you.” bid Anakin.

She didn’t know what to say back and simply watched her brother sprint towards the ship.

The Cliegg family watched the starship blow a plume of smoke underneath its landing gear, hovered, and then darted through the sky before vanishing like star come morning light.

For Irele, it’s back to her regular life here in Tatooine. Where she belongs.

Or so she thinks.

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endlesshero1122 · 3 years

Text

Rewritten Destiny (Part 1)

(this is a Time Travel Fic I wrote as a final for one of my classes. I hope you like it)

@kybacrystal @queenevac @sceptilemasterr @homosexual-haunting

@gayskywalkcrs @venomous-ko @pirate-king-hondo

(let me know if you want to be added or removed from the tag list)

Change is only easy if it occurs without caution

Pyrrhic victory. After spending generations fighting the relentless Sith Lord the Lost Knights have finally ended Darth Sidious’ reign of terror. In spite of their triumph, the Lost Knights feel no justice or peace after years of despair and loss. As Rey continues on the path set before her by the late Luke and Leia Skywalker, Maz Katana leads the Lost Knights onto another path, one that will change the course of destiny…

The Lost Knights, D-0, and EG-5 stared in awe at the ancient painting before them. It depicted three figures, all whom radiated an overwhelming sense of power of their own: the beautiful woman on the left projected a warm and comforting light that made them feel safe; the dark imposing man on the right sent out a wave of cold darkness that nearly swallowed them whole; the figure in the middle, the Lost Knight sense, held the other two’s power at bay to ensure balance. This, Maz Kanata had told them, was the gateway to the World Between Worlds.

“So, what is the World Between Worlds?” Keith asked aloud.

“I think I read about it in one of the sacred texts from the Jedi Temple,” Tala said softly. “It’s a plane within the force that has access to pathways and doors to moments in space and time. I tried to ask Master Yoda about it, but all he said was that the knowledge came to me for a reason.”

Maz nodded. “And now you know what that reason is.”

The Lost Knights glanced at each other unsurely. Maz sighed. She supposed that there was no easy way to explain this to them; they were still so young in so many ways in spite of their conflicting changes in age. But the task before them was not a simple one, nor the safest. One wrong move, and the threads of destiny that held every reality together would unravel, causing all worlds to plunge into ruin.

“Have any of you ever wished you could undo a moment in the past? Save someone you lost, or prevent an event that destroyed everything you held dear?”

The Knights stiffened. None of them needed to say it out loud, but Evan took the opportunity to finally speak up.

“Order 66.”

Maz gave them a knowing yet gentle look. D-0’s coned head swerved from each of his new friends. While an unliving being and therefore unable to use the force, he could sense the darkened aura that had suddenly surrounded his friends; he didn’t like it.

“W-wh-what is that?”

Evan glanced down at the droid. “It was how Palpatine became the Emperor and killed all the Jedi. He used it to turn their troops against them so he could rise into power…” Keith clenched his fists tightly. His voice was thick with anger as he spoke. “The Empire, the First Order…”

“Han, Luke, Leia, Obi-Wan, Padmé,” Tala’s voice was barely above a whisper as she listed their fallen friends. One name became lodged in her throat until she forcefully choked it out. “...Anakin…”

Keith and Evan winced at the name. Anakin… Three different generations, three different wars, and still no amount of suffering that any of them had endured came close to the pain that name inflicted on them.

“All of this, everything that’s happened, was because of Order 66,” Evan finished. His voice was thick as the unpleasant memories came flooding back. How much had he and his friends suffered, how much had they lost, because of that stupid order? Palpatine had finally been defeated, but his death brought no sense of justice or victory. In a way, despite all their efforts, he had still won…

“That may have come to pass in this world,” Maz spoke, startling the Knights out of their thoughts, “but it does not have to in another world.”

Her words caught the Lost Knights off guard. They glanced between each other, their faces conveying the same emotions: disbelief, uncertainty… and hope.

“Are…” Evan hesitated. He was afraid to hope, but still… “Are you saying we can stop Order 66 from happening?”

Maz smiled. It wasn’t exactly the answer he was looking for, but it was enough for the others.

“We can undo everything Palpatine’s done?” Keith was shaking with excitement. “We can stop him from building the Empire? Save the Jedi?”

“And if that never happens, the First Order will never exist,” Evan said in realization. He laughed; he felt lightheaded, but blissful and happy. This was amazing! It was almost too good to be true--

“Yes and no.”

There it was.

“While many of the events you have experienced have occurred in other paths within time, each has its own laws that cause them to exist separately,” Maz explained.

“Like Legends vs Clone Wars,” Tala thought out loud. “According to the canon of the Clone Wars, Palpatine had chips installed in the Clone’s brains that forced them to comply with Order 66. But in Legends, the Kamanoias just modified them to be unquestionably loyal and obedient.”

Maz confirmed her theory with a slight incline of her head. “But while these paths exist independently from each other, they are still connected. To cause significant damage to one will endanger them all.”

Evan bit the inside of his cheek. So it wasn’t just a simple matter of going back in time; they needed to find the right strand of reality to alter in a massive web of space and time. Furthermore, if they messed up or failed to alter time correctly in that one realm, they would harm every other multiverse in existence. Talk about no pressure…

“How do we know which one to choose?” Keith asked.

“Listen to the Force. Trust in it, and let it guide you. Now, you best get started on your journey.”

The Knights blinked in surprise as Maz turned on her heel and started back towards her ship.

“You’re not coming with us?”

Maz glanced at Evan from over her shoulder. “This is your path to walk, my only task was to lead you to the door. I added some additional information to your little droid friend that might be useful to you, but from here, you are on your own. I wish to have a word with Tala in private before I leave.”

Tala exchanged a brief glance with her friends before walking over to join Maz. Once they were out of earshot, Maz motioned for the girl to kneel so that they were at eye level.

“How are you feeling?” Maz asked her. Her tone was soft and gentle.

Tala shrugged, though she trembled slightly. “Do you want an in-depth description or a summary?”

Maz took Tala’s hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. She knew the journey had taken a toll on the Lost Knights, though as the one who had been closest to the Skywalkers, Tala carried a particular burden on her shoulders.

“This task is not a simple one; it will challenge you in many ways and push you to your limits, or even beyond that. But neither of you would have been chosen to walk this path if you did not have the strength to endure it.”

She placed two objects in both of Tala’s hands. Long and metallic, though one was more dense than the other. Tala looked down, and felt her chest tighten. In her left hand, she held Leia’s lightsaber; in her right, the one that Anakin had one wielded before it had been passed on to Luke.

“W-what…”

“Rey gave them to me just before she left,” Maz answered before Tala could fully structure the question. “She told me she had a vision when she connected to the Jedi of the past, and that Luke and Leia had the same vision before they passed.”

“What was the vision?”

Maz shook her head. “Rey instructed me not to tell you, but she did say this: these lightsabers carry the legacy of the Skywalkers, and now they are in your hands.”

Tala glanced down at the lightsabers in her hands. “Why me?”

Maz’s eyes softened as her hand lifted up to the japor snippet hanging from Tala’s neck. Anakin had carved it for his wife, Padmé, who then gave it to Tala before she had died. Maz traced the carvings carefully, as if they were a sacred text.

“Keith is your best fighter and serves as the group’s protector, Evan is a great leader and keeps you all grounded, but you were the closest to the Skywalkers. Rey, Luke, Leia, Anakin… they are a part of you, more than you know. Their legacy is your responsibility, and yours alone.”

“But what if we fail?” Tala asked, though she meant, What if I fail?

Maz gave Tala’s shoulder a comforting squeeze. “You won’t.”

Tala wasn’t sure if Maz only meant to answer the question she had asked or if she knew what was truly troubling her, but she accepted her words nonetheless.

“You best join your companions. You all have much to do.”

Tala nodded and rose to her feet. “Thank you, Maz.”

“No, thank you.”

Maz headed towards her ship, and Tala clipped the lightsabers to her belt before rejoining her friends. EG-5 addressed her with a tilt of his head and made a series of low mechanical growls. Anyone else would have interpreted this to be menacing, but Tala just gave the former Jedi Hunter a soft smile.

“I’m okay, EG. Maz just wanted to wish us luck before she left.”

She wasn’t trying to hide the lightsabers, though she didn’t see the need to bring them up. At least not yet. Right now, they had another matter to deal with.

“She didn’t happen to tell you how to open this door, did she?” Keith asked. “Because that would’ve been really helpful.”

Evan turned to Tala. “You were the one who learned about this place, and Master Yoda said that you found the texts about it for a reason. Maybe you’re the one who has to open it?”

Tala shrugged and approached the door. Listen to the Force, Maz had said. She closed her eyes and reached out with her mind. The world around her faded away as calming warmth flowed through her. She heard a faint whisper. Slowly, it grew louder until she could make out what it had said:

Daughter.

Tala opened her eyes and turned to the woman on the left. The Daughter. She saw that one of her hands was circled, and knew what to do. She placed her own hand on the Daughter’s and positioned it to mirror the painting. The circle around the woman’s hand began to glow and the painting shifted. Keith, Evan, and the droids watched in wonder as the lines moved to connect to each other as the rest of the painting lit up.

“We are the ones who guard the power,” a woman’s voice said softly; the Daughter’s voice, Tala reasoned. “We are the beginning, the middle, and the end.”

The Daughter turned her head towards the figure in the middle. In turn, the figure pointed to the man on the right, specifically at his hand, but the man did not move. Instead the wolves, who had gone unnoticed until that moment, turned their heads towards the small group. They growled softly, then howled and began to walk off the painting. Tala followed them without hesitation, and her friends warily followed as well. The wolves led the group to the far side of the stone wall before lingering there. They started by trotting slowly before breaking into a run as they formed a circle.

“Okay… Now what?” Keith asked Tala.

“Now we go through.”

Keith and Evan blinked at her; if the droids were able to, they would have as well.

“What? We don’t know what’s on the other side! We don’t even know if there’s another side, it just looks like they’re running around a spot of solid rock!”

Evan placed a hand on Keith’s shoulder to pacify him before addressing Tala. “Are you sure?” He understood Keith’s hesitance, but Tala was the one who learned about whatever this door was and where it led. She had never given him any reason not to trust her, and he wasn’t about to let his uncertainty change that.

Tala nodded once, then stepped through the door and disappeared. Keith and Evan shared a glance, then followed after her with D-O and EG-5 in tow. For a moment, they were engulfed in darkness. Voices whispered around them, though they could only hear a few.

“The Force will be with you. Always.”

“Do. Or do not. There is no try.”

“I am a Jedi, like my father before me.”

“I am one with the Force and the Force is with me.”

Keith let out a yelp as he and Evan stumbled out through the other side while D-0 and EG-5 landed next to them with a loud metallic clang. The boys took a moment to collect themselves before examining the area around them. From the looks of it, they seemed to be in space; darkness surrounded them save for the clusters of twinkling stars. They could make out a few constellations scattered across the void, but they were all depicted as wolves. Speaking of wolves, the ones who had formed the portal now stood still.

“You guys okay?”

Keith and Evan startled; neither of them had noticed Tala watching them until that moment.

“Yeah, we’re fine,” Keith told her. “How about you?”

Tala gave him a slight nod.

Evan quickly checked on the droids to make sure they were all right before turning to Tala. “I’m guessing we’re in the World Between Worlds?”

Tala nodded again.

“Any idea what to do now?”

“Why are you asking me? You’re the leader.”

Evan shrugged. “You’re the one who knows the most about this place.”

“And technically the only one who knows anything about this place,” Keith added. “‘The knowledge chose you for a reason’, remember?” Tala rolled her eyes, but didn’t dispute Keith’s point. “Well, first thing’s first: we need to make sure Order 66 never happens. If we want to do it right, we have to find the right moment in time in the right canon of events. After that, we can deal with stopping Sidious. In other words, we have to find the right door.”

Evan and Keith glanced around. By the looks of things, that part would be easier said than done. There were countless winding pathways leading to a variety of different doorways, none of which were identical to each other. Maz’s warning echoed in their ears: one mistake, and every single reality behind every door would unravel. So far, it looked like there were a thousand mistakes just waiting to happen.

“W-w-which door?” D-0 asked. His head swiveled from one door to the next in a pace that made the Lost Knights worry that it would spin right off. EG-5 seemed to share this concern, as he firmly placed his hand on D-0’s head to halt its movement.

Tala carefully studied each door that she could see, reaching out through the Force to see which pathway would call to her. Silence. Her stomach twisted slightly, and she reached out again. Still nothing. This wouldn’t do. How was she supposed to know which door to go through? She couldn’t just spin around and blindly point at one of the pathways. Too much was at stake to get careless. Aya took a deep breath, then closed her eyes and tried again. Listen to the Force, listen to the Force, listen to--

“Hoot.”

Aya’s eyes flew open. Much to her surprise, an elegant green convor was perched on her outstretched arm. She looked into the convor’s eyes, and felt a powerful yet gentle wave of energy flood through her. It felt similar to the energy she felt radiating off of the Daughter… A sudden realization hit Tala: this convor was the exact same one that was perched on the Daughter’s shoulder! The convor peered at Tala with wise eyes, and another wave of energy flooded through her.

“What’s up with the bird?” she heard Keith.

“How’d it even get in here?” Evan questioned.

“She,” Tala corrected. She felt the convor reach out to her through the Force again. “Her name is Morai, and she’s here to help.”

Morai hooted again, then flew down one of the paths. Tala glanced back at her friends, then followed the convor. She could hear her and her friends’ footsteps echoing softly off the path. The sound mingled with the hushed voices whispering around them, though a select few grew clearer as the group approached one of the doors.

“We’re just clones, sir. We’re meant to be expendable.”

“Without the clones, it would not have been a victory.”

“We’re not programmed. You have to learn to make your own decisions.”

“Good soldiers follow orders, good soldiers follow orders…”

“When the time comes, no one will be able to stop our plan to execute Order 66.”

Tala and the group came to a halt as Morai settled on top of the door’s outline. It was a simple circle, detailed only by a continuous number: 5.

“This is the one.”

“How can you be sure?”

Before Tala could answer Evan’s question, the white outlines of the door began to glow with a pale blue light as an image appeared at its center. The group instinctively backed away, with EG-5 giving a low mechanical growl, as a heavily cloaked figure came into view. None of them needed to see his face to know that he was Sidious; the dark, menacing chill that traveled up their spines was enough of a giveaway. As the image became clearer, they saw that this was not Sidious himself, but a hologram of him. He spoke in a hushed tone as he addressed the two Kaminoans in front of him, but the Lost Knights heard every word.

“Is it ready?”

“Yes, Lord Sidious,,” one of the Kaminoans said. The group instantly recognized the voice of Prime Minister Lama Su. He held up a glass plate containing an organic inhibitor chip. “Nala Se and her scientists have successfully developed the inhibitor chip to your request. Once you provide us with the template, we will begin duplicating the chip and then implant them in the clones.”

“Very good. Remember, no one must discover the purpose of these chips, or about Protocol 66.”

The Kaminoans bowed their heads as the Sith Lord’s hologram flickered, then vanished. Lama Su placed the chip on the table and left the lab along with Nala Se. Once they were gone, Keith released a string of curses that made Tala cover her ears.

“They knew! Those long-necked sleemos knew!”

“Of course they knew,” Evan growled. “But we can deal with them later. Right now, we have to focus on destroying that chip.”

“No.”

Evan and Keith balked at Tala.

“Tala--”

“If we destroy the chip, they’ll just make a new one,” Tala told them. “We need to alter it so that when the Kaminoans duplicate it, there’s a way to prevent Sidious from forcing the clones to obey Order 66.”

“And how do we do that?” Keith snapped. “It’s not like any of us are scientists. None of us can do anything to change that chip.”

D-0 glanced between the Knights before shyly rolling up to Evan. “I-I-I can.”

The Knights looked down at the little droid in shock. Did D-0, the skittish little droid they had found on Ochi’s abandoned ship, just tell them he could prevent Order 66?

“How?” Keith demanded. He felt a pang of guilt when D-0 recoiled at the tone of his voice, but it subsided when the little droid displayed a holographic diagram of the inhibitor chip’s structure.

“Maz did say she gave D-0 some extra information to help us,” Tala said as a smile tugged at her lips.

Evan grinned as he read over the schematics. “D-0, this is perfect!”

D-0 perked up at the positive praise.

“Okay, so all we have to do is find the chip and then--” “Actually, I’m going to wait here,” Tala spoke. She wrapped her arms around herself as she began to tremble. “I mean, I-I want to help, b-but…” She trailed off. Evan and Keith exchanged a brief glance before the oldest of the team placed a comforting hand on Tala’s shoulder.

“It’s all right, Tala,” Evan assured her. “We understand. Besides, one of us should probably wait here anyways so we can get back in.”

Tala gave her friend a grateful smile and nodded. Evan gave her shoulder a slight squeeze, then turned to address the rest of the team.

“The rest of us will go in and alter the chip so that the clones will never carry out Order 66. This is purely stealth and sabotage; we go in and we get out. No fighting. I’m looking at you, EG.”

The former Jedi Hunter growled in disappointment, but made no other argument as he followed his companions through the portal. Tala watched as their images faded away. Her shoulders sank as a sense of guilt twisted in her stomach. She wanted to go with her friends to help them, she should have. But setting foot in the very place where they had been created…

She shook her head. No, she thought to herself. Don’t think like that. It wasn’t their fault. They didn’t mean to. They didn’t want to. They would have never tried to hurt her, much less kill her, of their own free will. Still, with or against their free will, the clone had tried to kill her, and killed thousands of her friends without the slightest hesitation. She didn’t hate the clones or blame them for what happened that day, but she could never forget the horror she had felt when they turned their weapons on her. No, she could never forget that, no matter how much she wished she could. It was difficult to forgive something you couldn’t forget, and the opposite was just as true.

Tala was startled out of her thoughts when Morai hooted at her. The convor waited, as if to make sure she had Tala’s attention, before swooping behind her. The girl turned to follow Morai and found herself face to face with another door.

“Morai, why are you--”

A chorus of voices filled her ears as an image began to form in the entrance of the door:

“Who was the original host?”

“A bounty hunter called Jango Fett.”

“Boba was on Geonosis when his father died. He watched as I killed him.”

“You murdered my father! I’ll never forgive you!”

Tala could now clearly see the scene playing before her: Mace Windu advancing towards a man clad in Mandalorian armor. She knew who he was at a glance: Jango Fett, the clone template. Jango was trying to fend off the Jedi Master with shots from his blaster, but to no avail. Mace effortly deflected the lazer bolts as he drew closer to the bounty hunter. He was now only a foot away from Jango, and seemed intent on killing him. At the very moment Mace raised his violet saber, Tala reached through the portal and wrapped her arms around Jango’s torso. She pulled him back just as the Jedi swung his lightsaber, and their eyes met before he vanished from view. Tala was sent flying backwards along with the bounty hunter. Her head hit the invisible surface of the path, disorienting her slightly. She shook her head, trying to clear her senses, when she heard a gun’s safety switch off.

“Don’t move, Jedi.”

***

Evan and Keith cautiously peaked out into the hallway to make sure no one else was heading towards the lab. When they felt assured that they were not in danger of being discovered, they ducked back into the lab and sealed the door.

“EG, guard the door,” Evan ordered the former Jedi Hunter. EG-5 gave a low growl and nodded in acknowledgement before positioning himself in front of the door. Satisfied with the larger droid’s cooperation, Evan turned his attention to Keith as he plugged D-0 into one of the scanners.

“All right, D-0,” Keith said as he inserted the chip into the analysis chamber. “Show me what to do.”

The diagram of the inhibitor chip popped onto the screen along with the schema D-0 had shown them earlier.

“Do you know what to do?” Evan asked his friend.

Keith nodded. “Yeah. This schema is showing me how to implant my own protocol into the inhibitor chip, one that can override Order 66.” He smirked. “I’m pretty much pulling a Galen Erso over Sidious before Galen Erso did.”

“How long will it take?”

“Not too long. Maybe about fifteen minutes, tops.”

While they were discussing this, neither of them were aware of the elegant ship that had landed on the east docking bay, or who had stepped out of it.

***

Jango kept his blaster trained on Tala. Above them, Morai watched the two closely with keen interest.

“Where am I?” he barked at Tala. “Why did you bring me here? Who are you?”

Tala hesitated, then slowly stood. She kept her hands above her head and open to show the bounty hunter that she posed no threat. He watched her carefully, keeping his blaster leveled at her chest, but did not attempt to stop her.

“My name is Tala Iyulores, and this is the World Between Worlds. I… I saw Master Windu try to kill you so I just grabbed you and…”

Tala let herself trail off. Jango seemed to consider her words, then lowered his blaster. Tala allowed her hands to come to her side as Jango continued to study her.

“Why did you save me?”

Tala took a moment to debate this. Now that she thought about it, she didn’t really know what had caused her to intervene. Perhaps a moment of panic, or because of her bleeding heart as Keith would put it. Still, even if she didn’t know the reason for doing so, she felt no regret for saving him. Finally, she shrugged.

“I’ve never needed a reason to help someone. You were in trouble, and I was able to help, so I did.”

A silence fell between them, but it was cut short when a voice called out from the doorway.

“Dad? Dad, where are you?”

The center of the door shifted to reveal a young boy searching the Petranaki area, which was clustered with destroyed droids and the corpses of Jedi. Jango started towards the door.

“Boba!”

He started towards the door, then glanced back at Tala. His gaze lingered on the Japor snippet hanging from her neck.

“I won’t forget this.”

Tala didn’t have time to decide whether or not she should be concerned by his words before the bounty hunter stepped through the doorway. She watched him disappear, then turned her attention back to the door which Evan and Keith had stepped through. At the very same moment, the center of the doorway began to shift.

***

“And… done!” Keith declared as he added the final touches to the chip. “Protocol 99 is ready to go!”

Evan whooped while D-0 twittered excitedly. Even EG-5 gave a low growl in acknowledgement of their victory. Their celebration was cut short when they heard voices from outside the lab, one of which sent a particular chill up their spines.

“So, we are in agreement,” Count Dooku was saying to whom they could only assume were the prime minister and Nala Se. “Twenty million credits in exchange for Jago Fett’s genetic template.”

“Of course,” they heard Lama Su say. “As I stated earlier, the bounty hunter’s fee is of no concern to us. We should began as soon as--”

“Just a moment.”

Keith and Evan tensed. They had heard that voice before from a million different men with the same face. However, since the clones still had yet to be created, that could only mean…

“I have another condition in exchange for my genetic template,” Jango said. By the tone of his voice, it was clear that he would not take no for an answer. “I want the first clone you create to be given to me, completely unaltered.”

There was a long pause at this request. Evan took this opportunity to call D-0 and EG-5 back to him while Keith frantically looked around the lab.

“C’mon, Tala,” he whispered, as if expecting the youngest member of their team to hear him. “We could use a way out of here right about now.”

“A rather curious request,” Lama Su finally said. “But one we shall fulfill, nonetheless. Now come, we will start our analysis so that we may begin the production of this army.”

“Any time, Tala!”

No sooner had the words left Keith’s mouth, a hand reached out of the wall and pulled him through. It reached out to grab Evan, who took hold of D-0 and EG-5, and pulled him through just a split second before the doors to the lab opened. He landed in a heap along with the droids and Keith.

As they steadied themselves, Keith shot Tala a stony glance.

“Cutting it a bit close, don’t you think?” he snapped.

Tala ignored him as she helped Evan up. “Did you do it?” Evan shot her a mile-wide grin. “Oh, yeah. Man, it feels good to beat Sidious at his own game.”

“We haven’t won yet,” Tala reminded him. “We still need to get to the right reality at the right moment.”

“Well, in that case…” Evan turned to Morai and gave the convor a mock salute. “Morai, lead the-- where’d she go?”

Tala frowned and glanced up at the outline of the door where Morai had been perched. Sure enough, the convor was nowhere in sight.

“Oh, well that’s just great!” Keith growled sarcastically. “What now? That green pigeon was our guide through this maze!”

Evan let out a long-suffering sigh. Morai’s disappearance was an unneeded disadvantage, but they couldn’t let that stop them now. Besides, Morai wasn’t their true guide through the World Between Worlds…

He turned to Tala. “All right, Chosen One, lead us through.”

Tala sighed and closed her eyes. The first time she had tried to use the Force to guide her to the right door, nothing had happened. Well, nothing aside from Morai appearing to help them. Perhaps she could summon another guide to help them, or wait for Morai to come back and--

Something tugged at her, like a magnet trying to pull her closer. She followed it and felt the pull grow stronger. She could hear her friends following close behind her, but the sound of their footsteps was drowned out by the frantic shouting emanating from a strange door at the end of the path.

“...breaking a whole unit.”

“Fire at will.”

“Squad 2, pick your target.”

“There’s too many of them, Captain!”

“Watch your stabilizer, Gold 6.”

“Anybody, cover me. I’ve got two vultures on my tail.”

“We gotta hold them here.”

“Watch your left!”

“I can’t shake them! I’m hit! I’m hit!”

“Where’s our reinforcements?!”

Unlike the other doors that had a circular outline, this one was framed by two long lines that created a small diamond in the middle. Just above the lines, right before the formation of the diamond, were a pair of Jaig eyes.

A scene came into focus within the diamond. The Lost Knights tensed as they watched both their old deceased friend and their sworn enemy.

“Please, my dear,” Palpatine was saying to Padmé. “Reconsider this.”

The young Senator brushed off what the Knight knew to be false concern. “Don’t worry, Chancellor, I’ve dealt with far worse than the Hutts.”

“Understatement of the century,” Keith muttered; Tala swatted his arm in reply.

“Do take care, Senator,” Palpatine said as Padmé turned to leave. The darkness of his tone was subtle enough for Padmé to miss, but clear enough for the Knights to hear. “The Hutts are vile gangsters.”

An ugly smile twisted Palpatine’s lips as he exited the room a moment after. Once the disguised Sith Lord was gone, the Lost Knights and their droid companions stepped through the door and into the Chancellor’s office. A strange sensation passed through the Knights’ bodies,as if they were both warm and cold at the same time. It faded after a moment, but D-0 stammered in alarm while EG-5 released a series of frantic mechanical growls. The Knights looked to each other to ask what had their friends so concerned and saw the answer for themselves: they had deaged once again.

“Oh, great,” Keith complained as his voice cracked. Tala tried to muffle her laughter behind her hand. “We have to go through puberty again!”

“Least we’re teenagers,” Evan stated. “Going from twelve to twenty-six sucked. Besides, we have more important matters to deal with. D-0, get over here.”

While the boys and D-0 went over to the Chancellor's hologram projector, Tala gazed out of the wide window behind his desk. Even from here, she could see the Jedi Temple, pristine and glittering in the light of Coruscant’s sun. Her heart twisted in her chest. The last time she had laid eyes on the temple, it had been burning. EG-5 approached her and produced a concerned growl.

“The last time I was here, Sidious took control of the senate and destroyed the Jedi,” Tala told her friend. Her hand unconsciously lifted to the Japor snippet. “It’s just hard being here again.”

EG-5 growled again and placed a hand on the girl’s shoulder. Tala gave him a small smile in return before gazing back out towards the Jedi Temple.

Meanwhile, Keith and Evan had finally managed to contact every Clone commander in the Republic Army. They were met with suspicious glares, particularly from the one with blue armor. Much to the curiosity of the boys, his helmet bore the same Jaig eyes inscribed on the doorway they had passed through.

“This frequency is from Chancellor Palpatine’s private transmitter,” a clone in orange armor said. His voice came out as a low growl. “Who are you, and how did you gain access to it?”

“We’re… uh…” Keith turned to Evan for help.

“We’re representatives from the Senate,” Evan said smoothly. Unlike Keith, subterfuge had always been one of his strong points. “Chancellor Palpatine requested that we pass on a message of the highest priority to you.”

“What message?” Evan grinned. “Enable Protocol 99.”

A blank look flashed over the commanders’ faces. Once it had passed, they shook their heads as if trying to fight off a minor headache.

“What the hell was that?” the clone in the blue armor demanded once he had recovered from the chip's effects. “What did you do to us?!”

“Thank you for your time, have a nice day, and goodbye!” Keith said quickly as he shut off the hologram.

“That went well,” Evan said with a slight chuckle as Tala came over to join them. “Now we just need to expose Sidious.”

D-0 bumped against Evan’s leg to get his attention before projecting a hologram of Palpatine. He was clothed in clean white robes with intricate gold details, and had a kind look upon his face. In an instant, the kindly old man before them was replaced by a face the Lost Knights were more familiar with: a menacing figure concealed by a dark cloak barely showing his scarred face and gleaming yellow eyes.

“Well, that’s terrifying,” Evan commented. “Let’s do it.”

“Maz has so much weird stuff,” Keith muttered to Tala as Evan plugged D-0 into the transmitter. She nodded in agreement as they watched Evan press a few controls on the transmitter.

“Okay, I’ve got it set to play on every communication device in the Republic and Separatists systems and the Jedi Council Chambers,” Evan informed them. “Ready to take down Sidious once and for all?”

“Do you even need to ask?” Keith quipped.

“On three,” Tala said as she placed her hand on the main control. “One…”

Keith placed his hand on top of hers. “Two…”

Evan laid his hand on top of theirs. “Three.”

No sooner had they pressed the control, the doors slid open to reveal Chancellor Palpatine. His eyes flickered from the Lost Knights to his personal transmitter, then out towards the window. The Knights could hear the faint cries of shock and fear from the streets below them, though they hardly paid much attention to it as they slowly backed away from the menacing Sith Lord before them.

“Well,” Sidious snarled as his eyes flickered from icy blue to sinister yellow, “you children have made the gravest mistake of your short lives!”

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obsessively-obsessed-fangirl · 4 years

Text

The Rise of Skywalker was the downfall of Star Wars (MAJOR spoilers)

Oh, J.J. Abrams, I had high expectations for you. I trusted you with one of my most important things...And you absolutely destroyed it. After seeing both your contributions to Star Trek and Star Wars, all I can really say is that you may know how to start a story...but you sir, do not know how to finish it and it is my own fault in believing that you could.

Yes dear reader, I have just come back from watching the final installment of the series of Star Wars movies. I have just come home feeling out of sorts because The Rise of Skywalker wasn’t necessarily the worst movie I’ve ever seen, yet it wasn’t that great nor what I expected the final installment of a Star Wars movie to be. In fact, the only way I can describe it, is just OK, and as we know from my favorite TV commercial, just OK, is not OK.

Why were Finn and Poe even in this movie?

From what I hear, the actors who play Finn and Poe tried hard to play the characters as if they were in a romantic relationship, despite Disney’s specific instructions. I would have loved this! These two characters have amazing chemistry when they are around each other, but that’s not how the story played out, and that’s not exactly why I’m so upset with them. I’m upset because despite being part of the main trio of the current installment, Finn and Poe had no growth in this final movie, and at the end of the day, I can’t really say they had TONS of character development in the series. At least within the first two movies, Finn and Poe were given their individual “tasks” and started to grow towards their final selves ...yet in the final movie, they were constantly being sidelined and overshadowed by Rey and Ben.

One example of this is the idea that Finn is force sensitive. Now we don’t know “for sure” if this is true or not because of a scene within TROS where Finn tries to tell Rey something but never gets the chance to. Now some, especially those who remember how Finn flirted with Rey in episode VII might believe that he was planning to say that he loved her, but according to the actor who plays Finn, John Boyega, he says that Finn was planning to tell her he was force sensitive. This would have been a great plot point for Rey and Finn’s friendship, yet we never saw ANY sign of this within TROS or the other installments of the current trilogy. In fact, J.J. Abrams instead chose to continually portray Finn as almost overly concerned about Rey in TROS, like he was leaving the option open for those who ship Finn and Rey. Along with this, we were also lead to believe there could be a possible romance between him and Rose, one of the characters introduced in Episode VIII. Now I love Rose on her own, I think she is absolutely fantastic. Yet in TROS we barely saw her and she said maybe 3 lines to Finn. Why create a budding friendship/relationship between Rose and Finn, to completely sideline it in the final movie?

Now, to be quite honest, I wasn’t a huge fan of Poe within this trilogy. He is definitely one of those “know-it-all” characters who needs to be taken down a few pegs (which Leia 100% does in episode VIII). But, I don’t think it’s totally fair to Poe or the actor who plays him, to give him the beginnings of a backstory in the final movie. At some point during the film, we learn that Poe used to work on a planet and royally angered a girl. OK, great, glad to hear he is more than just a resistance pilot, but this adds nothing to the story being told in TROS, and I’ll be quite honest, I don’t remember the name of his “girl who is a friend” or even what planet they were on. All of this seemingly important character information would have served the audience a lot better if had been introduced A LOT earlier, like in the second movie when we were actually learning about his headstrong and destructive character.

Rey is a Palpatine?

So I guess the question of who is Rey’s family finally gets answered. Yet, it makes absolutely no sense and was a huge plot point that was not set up well at all. Yeah, so we find out that Rey is the granddaughter of Emperor Palpatine and everyone pretty much knew about it except for her. Also, Palpatine somehow survived and is really been the one controlling Rey and Ben, not Snoke, who was killed by Rey and Ben in Episode VIII. Now I do not know if this was J.J. Abrams plan all along, or he felt that the story needed to change after the events in Episode VIII and Rian Johnson’s vision, but bringing back Palpatine and making him the big “villain” of TROS was so underwhelming and underdeveloped.

TROS should have focused on Rey walling herself off from Kylo Ren after the events of episode VIII. As we saw during the film, her powers and the bond between Kylo and Rey were getting stronger to the point where they could manipulate items between each other and fight with lightsabers as if they were together. This should have been a huge problem for Rey as she battles with the idea of her going to the dark side, yet instead it just became a thing between them that they could do, where they just had the same conversation over and over again.

Rey should have just been the daughter of nobodies. They should have left her as someone who had a calling, not the granddaughter of someone who had no purpose being in this movie. TROS should have focused on Rey resisting the pull of the dark side while Kylo Ren wrecks havoc as the new supreme leader. It should have been about the Rey battling Ben and pulling him away from Kylo Ren and back to the light. Not about her defeating someone who wasn’t part of her story until now.

Ben was finally redeemed and it was done poorly:

Like with Rey, Palpatine served no purpose in Kylo Ren’s story. The whole point of episode VIII and of killing Snoke, was to show how Kylo Ren is no longer a puppet to anyone else. He is now his own master and in charge of his own choices (that of going to the dark side). Yes, he was conditioned by Snoke to listen to his darkness, but at the end of Episode VIII, it was about him CHOOSING the dark side, and TROS should have focused on this instead of making him a puppet to someone else.

While there were some good moments for Kylo/Ben within TROS, like when he is confronted by the memory of Han Solo, it wasn’t nearly enough. Ben had no interaction with Luke and only 0.1 seconds with Leia which really hurt to watch. While her death was absolutely pointless and really made no sense, it hurts even more to see how much it impacted Ben. We saw nothing of a relationship between him and his mother in any of the episodes. They were shown to be so far away from each other, that it really made no sense to see how much her death impacted him. If you were going to do this, give her a death that matters, and at least give to us after you show some development between Ben and Leia.

I was also extremely upset at how Ben was treated after he chooses the light side. When Ben chose to throw his lightsaber into the water, that should have been his welcome home in the eyes of the Jedi who came before him. They should have been there for Ben like they were for Rey during her battle with Palpatine. Along with this. Ben should have been there helping Rey to defeat him. Showing her she wasn’t alone, not on some rocks down below forced to wait until the battle was over. When he climbed back up to Rey after the battle, the force ghosts should have been there with him, helping him to bring Rey back to life.

As some fans have noticed, Rey and Ben’s final moments together were shot very...off. As in, it looks like the events of Ben’s death were really shot in reverse and he wasn’t supposed to die. I’ve also seen that Daisy Ridley, Rey, was recently talking about the last scene of the movie. From certain reports, it seemed as if Ben was supposed to be there with her in the final shot. According to Ridley, the ending was supposed to be emotional and “tear worthy.” Yet, the ending wasn’t even close. Which once again leads me to believe that what we saw in the theater was not the original ending and instead was some last minute change that shows how much J.J. Abrams doesn’t care for Ben or his other characters.

Final thoughts on trash:

I could go on...and on…..and on about what bothered me in this movie because there is a lot that does (LANDO’S POINTLESS PRESENCE). But, in the end it really doesn’t matter. I know deep down that whatever happened with J.J. Abrams and the team behind TROS, that it wasn’t meant to be this way. Maybe it was Disney’s fault, maybe it was J.J. Abram’s fault ...I don’t know. All I do know, is that every character and every actor that was part of Star Wars deserved far better things from Episode IX than they got. I’m so sad this is where we ended up and I’m so sad at how we got here. And all I can do now is hopefully move on and up.

#Star Wars #The Rise of Skywalker #Episode XI #Spoilers #J.J. Abrams #TRASH #Reylo #Kylo Ren #Rey Skywalker #Palpatine #Finn x Poe #poe dameron #ben solo #ben skywalker #luke skywalker #leia organa

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wanderingrogue1977 · 4 years

Text

New Beginnings

The old soldier walked slowly through the dark forest, toward the fire in the distance. There was not a sound except for the leaves and branches breaking beneath his feet, it was as though the forest quieted itself in a silent reverence for him.

He set down on the ground with his pack and removed a helmet and some armor from a lifetime ago. He held the helmet in his hands for a long moment, staring at his reflection, he was old now, older than he thought he’d ever be. He set the helmet down and leaned against it.

He looked to the pyre as the flames continued to burn bright and warm. Finally he spoke to the pyre: “So this is where we end up, eh?” He picked at the grass beneath his fingers. “Always thought we’d end up together at the end. Just not like this.” He looked away and spoke softer, a deep sorrow laced his voice- “Not like this.” He bowed his head in what could only be from a pain deeper than most would experience. A pain from loss, betrayal, and a lifetime of loneliness.

“Thought I might find you out here.” A woman’s voice spoke softly from behind him, startling the old soldier out of his somber reverie.

“General!” He stood as fast as an old man can stand and saluted the woman who had been the closest thing he had to family in a long time.

She merely laughed. “You don’t have to salute me anymore Rex, I’m not even a general. Besides if anyone should be saluting here, I should be saluting you, General.” At this, she saluted her old friend.

“You’ll always be a general to me, general.” He said the last word to emphasize his point and smiled at her.

“Fair enough.” She said. Then she hugged her old friend and between them passed a lifetime of memories full of pain, joy, sorrow, and happiness. “It is good to see you again Rex.” She said when they let go.

“It’s always good to see you Ahsoka.” They looked to the pyre and watched the flames dance against the night sky with a sadness washing over them.

“It was him, wasn’t it?” He asked, knowing what the answer would be, but still needing her to confirm it.

“Yes. It was.” She said simply.

“What do we do now?” He asked after a long moment. “Retire?” They both started laughing after he said it, knowing they had spent their whole lives fighting in a war they had no choice in fighting but now the war had finally ended and neither of them had ever thought it would happen. It was a relief and a bittersweet victory all at once. So they laughed.

“If I could make a suggestion.” Came a familiar voice from the direction of the pyre. It shocked the old soldier so much he drew his gun and aimed at the impossibility before him. The gun trembled in his hand.

“Peace, Rex.” Anakin Skywalker said. “I am nothing more than a ghost, I am not here to harm you.” Rex slowly lowered his weapon.

“H-how?” Rex was shaken and looked to Ahsoka who was much calmer than he was.

“The living Force is but one way of living. When one is able to let go of all of their possessions and attachments to this world and find a greater path, they can pass on to another world of the Force, the spiritual Force.” The ghost spoke to them.

“What?” Rex asked again.

“I let myself die to save my son, in doing so I fulfilled the prophecy and finally brought balance to the Force because I let go of all that I was. For that I was rewarded with a second chance of life.” Anakin spoke again, smiling as he said so.

Rex looked to Ashoka still shocked and confused. “He speaks the truth, Rex. This is not an illusion, this is Anakin and he has become one with the Force.” Anakin nodded towards her in thanks.

“Why are you here?” Rex asked. A pain and anger evident in his voice. “To say you’re sorry? After what you did?” He shook his head no giving Anakin his answer.

“No. I do not seek forgiveness, I know what I have done cannot be forgiven. I want to thank you. Both of you.” He said.

That surprised the both of them. They looked at him in a stunned silence, waiting for him to continue. “Thank you for being what I could not be- a good person. You both suffered and sacrificed so much because of what I did and yet you continued to fight and you won. You are both better people than I could ever hope to be. I am so proud of you both.”

“Thank you, Anakin.” Ahsoka said with tears in her eyes. Rex nodded his agreement, looking away not wanting to let them see the tear falling from his face.

“Is it really over?” Rex finally asked. The anger gone from him, replaced with a tiredness that matched his age.

“Where there is power to be sought, there will always be those who seek to have it.” Anakin said.

“So it’s not over?” Rex asked, a little more than crestfallen.

Anakin took a moment to close his eyes and listen to the Force. “The Force is always moving and guiding us, where it takes us we don’t yet know.”

“What are you not telling us?” Ahsoka asked.

“The Empire is gone. The Emperor defeated. The Sith are destroyed. But the Empire still has supporters. They must be stopped.”

“And I suppose we’re the ones to do it? I’m getting too old for this sort of thing.” Rex said.

“You will not be alone, my old friend.” Anakin said. “With the fall of the Empire a New Republic can be formed by a new generation. The Empire’s supporters must be found and stopped in order for this New Republic to thrive. They cannot do it all on their own but my daughter, Leia, will try. She’s going to need all the help she can get.” He looked to Rex.

“Why me?” He asked.

“You know the Empire as well as anyone and that will be invaluable to her.” Rex was taken aback by this, it was a lot to ask and Anakin could sense his unease. “You have always been the best of the best Rex, because of your conviction and loyalty to a cause greater than yourself. And at the very center of your heart, you are a good man. I know you will do the right thing.”

Rex didn’t quite know how to respond. “Yeah well looking after Skywalkers’ is kind of a hobby of mine I suppose.” Anakin smiled at his old friend.

Anakin looked to Ahsoka. “I have a request for you Ahsoka. The Jedi are gone. But they need not stay that way.”

“Anakin I left for a reason-“ she started.

But he held his hands up in acquiescence. “The Jedi Order you left is gone. No more. But it won’t stay that way, Luke Skywalker will reform the Jedi Order. But he, like his teachers and father before him, are flawed. He cannot see that yet. But as someone who did see it, you have a unique position to be able to council him on what the Jedi are truly meant to be.” He held out his hand and in it was her Padawan braid she gave up a long, long time ago.

“The choice is yours to make, of course. But it is the path of the Jedi to pass on what we have learned and you have learned so much, Ahsoka.” She hesitated a moment. She looked up at him not quite sure if she could do what he asked. But she closed her eyes and listened to the Force and she reached out and took her braid back from her old master.

He smiled and she swore she could see a tear form in his eye. He pulled out his lightsaber and gesture toward the ground, “if you will.” He asked.

She kneeled before her old master and closed her eyes with a calmness she had not felt in years. “Ahsoka Tano, I hereby grant you the rank of Grand Jedi Master of the New Jedi Order.” He moved his lightsaber from one shoulder to the other, knighting her.

She stood up and bowed to her former master. “Thank you, my Master.”

“May the Force be with you Ahsoka Tano.” With a final bow to Rex and Ahsoka, Anakin Skywalker faded from this world and watched as his former apprentice and the old soldier walked toward their new beginning.

@barissoffee

#the clone wars #tcw #ahsoka tano #rex #anakin skywalker #could not get the image #of ahsoka and rex #visiting Anakin’s pyre that Luke makes for him

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gatheringstars · 3 years

Text

Darkness in the Sand Dunes

As a fellow Jedi, Padme helps Anakin rescue his mother and stops him from making a terrible mistake

Quick drabble 1993 words

The sands of Tatooine passed them both by in a blur as they rode on the speeder bike, the air growing cool as the twin suns began to set over the horizon. Padme paid neither any mind, her eyes closed with her cheek and ear pressed to Anakin’s back as they went. Padme securely wrapped her arms around his waist as she pressed in close behind him. It was an embrace of comfort to soothe the growing turmoil she could sense inside him. She didn’t feel any of the yearnings he had for her while they were on Alderaan. It seemed his focus was primarily on his mother.

The Jedi Council had tasked the two of them with protecting Alderaan’s Senator, Bail Organa, as assassins targeted him. Sent by Dooku, she was sure, though she hated to think ill of any Jedi, former or not. While she had denied him and pushed him away when it came to his feelings for her, she was quick to aid him when he confessed the dreams of his mother suffering, calling for him. She called in a favor from a fellow Jedi and explained that something urgent had come up, something that could not wait for the Council’s deliberation, but only she and Anakin could attend. After all, they could not simply abandon Senator Organa to whatever fate was lying in wait the moment they were gone.

Padme let Anakin take the lead in finding his mother, as he was more in tune with her, but she refused to be left behind. A feeling deep in the pit of her stomach told her that if she let Anakin go alone, something truly terrible would happen to him. The Anakin she knew and… and cared for would never return. So here they were, following Anakin’s instincts and feelings through the Dune Sea, looking for an encampment of Sand People that had taken his mother hostage.

The bodies they had found along the trail came to her mind. Her grip around Anakin tightened as she tried to banish the intrusive thought from her mind. She felt him probe, but she shielded herself from him, not out of rejection, though. She did give him a quiet assurance that she was okay. Deep inside, however, she could feel the beginnings of anger. She reminded herself of the Jedi code and what she had read in the Temple about the Tusken Raiders. Shortly after the Naboo crisis and Anakin’s arrival from Tatooine, Padme began to look into the history of the planet in the archives.

Past Jedi had concluded that the Sand People were not wholly a violent species. Further study showed that the natives were incensed at the encroaching of outsiders, settlers, on their world. She could understand their frustration. She wondered if maybe there was a way to establish peace between the settlers and the Sand People. It would require someone to learn their language first, and Jedi tried to make peace had wound up dead.

She could feel the warmth from the twin suns begin to fade as the wind whipping up her cloak began to cool rapidly. Opening her eyes, she could still see remnants of sunlight on the horizon, but the moons were lighting up the night so she could see. There wasn’t many sand and rocky outcroppings as they went. Anakin suddenly began to slow down, and Padme stretched out her senses. Just ahead, she could feel dozens of life forms and their various emotions, but there was one that stood out from all of them, cutting through her like a lightsaber. A mix of pain and despair mixed with remnants of hope that someone would come. Shmi was alive, but only barely. They had to hurry.

The two disembarked from the bike, leaving it as they crept through the darkness towards the encampment. Padme tried to reach out to Anakin to comfort him tentatively, but his shields immediately rebuked her. Hurt but understanding, Padme refrained from trying anymore. They snuck into the camp, most of the inhabitants fast asleep now, unaware of the two Jedi infiltrators scurrying through towards the hut housing their only living prisoner. There were two guards at the front of the tent, so she and Anakin worked their way to the back. Anakin ignited his lightsaber with Padme on the other side to keep the blade’s light from alerting the rest of the camp. He cut out a portion of the wall and stepped in without making sure there were any raiders inside. She followed in after him.

Padme resisted the urge to gasp at the sight of Shmi, bound to a rack, but the Jedi’s eyes still went wide as she took in Shmi’s state. Anakin showed no reaction, having already seen this a dozen times by now in his dreams. Carefully, Anakin cut her free of her binds and took his mother into his arms, brows furrowed in anguish. Padme wasted no time hurrying to their side, gathering the Force to begin the healing process. It was not good. Shmi’s presence in the Force was so thin. The beatings she had taken over the weeks showed on her face and wrists, but Padme remained confident in her ability to save her. She was one of the best healers, such talent, her early masters claimed, that had not been seen in a very long time, possibly fifty years. It was this talent that brought her to the Jedi, a skill she had perfected at the Temple… especially after Qui-Gon’s passing. She had been too late to do anything for him then.

She would not fail here.

For a moment, she hadn’t realized Anakin had been saying anything until Shmi suddenly spoke up.

“Annie?” Shmi whispered. “Annie? Is it you?”

“Don’t talk,” Padme spoke up softly. “Save your strength. We’re getting you out of here.”

Shmi looked over at her, surprised anyone else had come and smiled. Padme smiled back to reassure her that everything was all right, but a quick probe into her feelings revealed that Shmi already knew things were fine now that Anakin was back with her. The relief that coursed through the older, broken woman was so overwhelming that Padme feared she would slip through her grasp. As she worked, Padme felt something, the return of that rage prickling at her senses. For a moment, she thought it was her own, and while some of it was, it wasn’t just her. It was so cold, the anger and the grief, that it burned at her senses. Looking up at Anakin, Padme realized it was coming from him.

“Anakin,” Padme said softly, almost choking on his name. She spoke again, more clearly this time. “Anakin, we’ve got to get out of here.”

“You go,” he said with a voice so hard and sharp. It cut at Padme’s ears, and she forced herself to stay calm. Force help her; she would not lose two Skywalkers tonight.

“No, I need your help. We have a long way to go, and I can’t keep her alive all night. I’m gonna need your strength to help me,” she told him, her voice just as hard. For a moment, she let down her shields entirely, letting him sense everything.

She was angry too. Padme wanted to go out, ignite her sabers, and slaughter all of them for what these people did to Shmi. Doing so would not save Shmi, however, nor would it bring her back if she perished. They had to focus on her.

Maybe she didn’t love Shmi to the same degree as Anakin, Padme wasn’t her daughter, but she did love her. It was deep enough to incite a rage so cruel it threatened to burn her body to ash. How could they do this to a woman who had come to Tatooine through no choice of her own? How could they beat this kind woman who had done nothing but love the people coming in and out of her life? Padme wanted justice for the atrocity inflicted upon Shmi, even if she understood why the Tuskens had done this. She stopped herself, though, just as Anakin should. To raise their hand against the Tusken Raiders would only make matters worse for the farmers. More would wind up like Shmi, and Padme couldn’t allow that.

“Help me save your mother,” she pleaded. “She needs you now more than ever.”

Something snapped or settled, Padme couldn’t tell, but what she had said--or perhaps he’d sensed something from her--had stopped the storm raging storm within him, and a calm wave of power emanated from Anakin and streamed right into her. Padme was so surprised by the sheer strength of it that, for a moment, she wasn’t sure what to do with it all. She turned it all to Shmi, taking the older woman out of Anakin’s arms. He continued to feed her his strength as he led them back to the speeder.

With the older woman settled in her arms, Padme sat at the front of the bike, turned around to protect Shmi from the harsh cold winds as they rode while Padme healed her. Anakin sat at the back of the bike, his larger form reaching around the two in front of him. Padme did her best to wrap her cloak around Shmi’s body. The Jedi didn’t need the Force or her eyes to know that they were going too fast. If they were to hit an outcropping of rock, all three of them were sure to die in the fiery explosion. She and Shmi both knew that they were beyond safe as Anakin whisked them back to the Lars homestead. The ship she and Anakin had traveled to Tatooine on had a bacta tank, a medical droid, and other medical supplies they could use to treat her, as Padme could only do this for so long, even with Anakin’s help. However, as the minutes turned to hours, Padme could feel Shmi’s strength return little by little.

They returned to the homestead in the wee hours of the morning. Padme and Anakin hurried to bring Shmi aboard their ship, a particular protocol droid watching them. The droid instructed them to put her in the tank. Her wounds mostly healed thanks to the two Jedi. The bacta would do the rest. Anakin collapsed in a heap next to the tank, his back to the wall, thoroughly exhausted. Padme felt the power he’d been feeding her fade away, and her legs buckled. Quietly, Padme settled in next to him for warmth and comfort. Neither of them would wake for several hours, even as the Lars family ventured in to find them and Shmi resting in the ship. Beru gently placed a blanket over the two Jedi and left them to sleep.

Later that day, Shmi was removed from the tank and moved to a bed inside the Lars home. Anakin refused to leave her side for even a moment. On the other hand, Padme knew that their rescue of Shmi might incite more violence between the farmers and the Tusken Raiders. She had to do something about this. In the few days that followed, Padme took time to go out to their camp. The first few attempts at communication had ended in violence, with Padme fleeing to avoid any actual bloodshed.

It wasn’t until she saved one of their own that a genuine dialogue could begin without violence. They welcomed Padme into their encampment, and slowly she began to learn their language, culture, and heritage. Later, when she and Anakin left for Geonosis, she promised to return to the Tuskens to learn more, asking them to leave the settlers in peace for now. They agreed. Over the next few years, even during the Clone Wars, Padme set up a peaceful arrangement between the farmers and the raiders.

That same tribe that Anakin nearly wiped out later went on to protect his son.

#♡drabble #;;datacrons(vader headcanon)#;;datacrons(padme headcanon)#v;;Master Jedi #( oof idk how I feel about this )

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moon-antics · 4 years

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I NEED a sequel to the one-shot you did with "I thought I could trust you" "then your trust was misplaced" with Poe x force sensitive!reader. PLEASE, I N E E D I T

redemption ( continuation of betrayal )

authors note : you ask and shall receive. i really liked the idea and setting so i’m glad you enjoyed it as much as i did while writing !

character / ship : poe dameron x reader

summary : even after everything you’ve done, poe still loves you, and he wants to have you back

word count : 2176

warnings : not really following the events of ‘the last jedi’ at all.. oops, and swearing

“Poe! Hey, oh shit! Hey, what happened to you?”

Finn’s voice only slowly pulled Poe out of his haze, his head and back hurt like crazy. What had happened?

“We need to leave, now! This ship is about to be nothing but space trash!”

A pair of hands hastily pulled Poe to his feet, his eyes adjusted, and he saw a worried Finn standing before him. His friend was right, the ship shook, and the alarm was still blaring through the halls. The smell of smoke rose up his nose, making him pull his shirt up to cover it.

“Then let’s go!”

Poe tried his best to keep up with Finn’s pace, but the dull pain thumping at the back of his head was making it harder.

Soon after, they arrived at the transports and cramped into the one that was still left. Before the blast doors closed, Finn turned to Poe: “Wait, where’s (Y/N)? We can’t leave without her!” “Forget about her..”, Poe spoke through gritted teeth. Finn frowned, but didn’t question it further, not while they’re still in immediate danger.

Finally, the transport took off, without you.

Poe watched the command ship get bombarded by the First Order fleet that you had led here. He couldn’t believe it. You betrayed the Resistance, you betrayed him.

He sat down on the ground, back leaning against the wall by the window. He didn’t want to watch the ship explode.

He couldn’t imagine what Finn would think when he told him, or BB-8. That droid adored you. Wait.. BB-8!

Poe sprung up, looking around in panic to find his little companion. Before he went to search you, he ordered BB to go to the X-Wing and get ready for take-off, but that never happened.

He walked around the small metal box he was stuck in until they landed on a planet, seeing many familiar faces but not the signature white and orange droid. Did he lose him as well?

Desperately, he turned the last corner he yet had to explore and saw him accompanied by Finn and Leia.

“BB-8!!” The pilot rushed to the droid, which beeped happily and rolled to his owner. Poe dropped to his knees, hands holding the rolling droid in place and examining him for any damage. He let out a sigh of relief when he was sure the droid was fine.

BB-8 let out a few happy beeps, Poe cracked into a small smile. “I know buddy, I missed you too.”

He patted the droid’s side before getting up. Going over to Finn, he hugged him, also relieved he was fine. “Thank you for helping me..” “I couldn’t just let you lay there. What happened anyways?”

Finn, Leia and BB-8 mustered him with expecting glances. He didn’t want to tell them; he knew how dearly Leia held onto you like a daughter. She loved you, she had helped you with your training, guided you to understand your place here and in the force. Telling her that you betrayed them and turned to the dark side would break her.

Poe took a deep breath, prepping his hands on his hips. His gaze was aimed at the ground when he started speaking. “I caught someone transmitting our current location to the First Order, that was how they found us.”

BB-8’s surprised beeps were accompanied by Finn’s disbelieve. “What? They betrayed us? Who did it?”

Poe’s eyes drifted to Leia, who was uncharacteristically quiet. Did she know?

“(Y/N)..”, his voice was dripping with venom, that name burned on his tongue.

The room fell silent. Leia shook her head, one hand laying on her forehead. She was in disbelief, so was everyone else. Hell, even Poe himself, who witnessed you do all of this couldn’t fathom you actually doing it. That just wasn’t you, in any way.

Finn walked over to Poe, laying a comforting hand on his arm. “Poe.. are you sure it was her? I mean, maybe Ren was pulling tricks on yo-“ “It was her, I saw her with my own eyes! She did this, for what reason I don’t know.”

His friend nodded as he dropped his hand.

“Poe.”, Leia’s voice made the pilot look at her as she beckoned him over. He stood before her, he could see the disappointment in her eyes, how she tried to stay strong. She had felt the balance in you shifting before, but she didn’t think much of it. You were strong, determined and always had a clear target. Unfortunately, they were the target.

She took his left hand in both of hers, smiling sadly as she spoke. “I know how you felt about her, but the dark side is strong. Saving her won’t be an option, you have to let her go.” “No!”; he yanked his hand away, “It might have been her body that did it, but this isn’t her. She would never do that, and you know it!”

“The temptation of power makes people do many things, Poe. She might be too far gone already..”

The first nights on the transports felt like pure hell for Poe. Not just the hard beds made it hard for him sleep, even though his eyes screamed for rest, his thoughts couldn’t stop running around you, around what you did.

But when his mind did decide to shut up, he didn’t fall into the dreamless sleep he badly craved.

He dreamed of you, the real you. The you he fell in love with.

All the mornings he woke up next to you replayed in front of his inner eye. The feeling of his skin against yours felt all too real. He was still truly and utterly in love with you, even after what you did. How could he not be? You were beautiful, perfect in his eyes. When he thought about the future, you were the only consistent aspect in it, it was always you.

Poe woke up as a painful sob ripped through his throat, his hands instantly clasped over his mouth, muffling the sounds that threatened to escape. The realization of everything just settled in now after he saw what was and probably never will be again.

His throat hurt as the harsh sounds left his body. His feelings pouring out through the tear streaming down his cheeks. His body curled up under the thin duvet. The small room felt so cold, so empty. Like he was all alone, for good.

When they finally arrived on Crait, the First Order was already close on their heels. All the few remaining members of the Resistance could do was hide in the abandoned outpost and do what they could to hold them off as far as possible.

But the battle didn’t go well for them.

Everyone watched anxiously when the troops started to draw closer and the Resistance defenses were defeated. “We have to go deeper into the base! There must be another way out of here!”

“Wait..”, Poe held up one hand, making everybody stop in their tracks and look out onto the battlefield. A hooded silhouette emerged from seemingly nothing. The General stepped forward; she knew who it was. Luke, her brother, he came to aid them in their darkest time.

Meanwhile you stood next to Kylo Ren as you both watched him appear. You could feel Kylo’s anger that started to boil his blood.

“Aim all firepower at him!” And so they did.

After a few long seconds of every weapon shooting at the man standing in front of their troops, you could feel that he was still there. So did Ren.

You both looked at each other, thinking the same thing. “We’ll go down and kill him ourselves.”, Kylo said before you both exited the vehicle.

Why Kylo wanted to kill him, you partly understood. But you yourself had no hatred against this man, not even after the foolish stories that Kylo had told you. Leia had also told you about how Luke really was.

The moment he attempted to kill Kylo, that didn’t define Luke Skywalker, not for you. His heroics and way of using the force had always been an inspiration for you, even now while you were with the First Order.

Kylo’s steps reached further than yours, the distance between you two growing bigger with every step he took. He really wanted that man dead at his feet. The sound of his lightsaber igniting scared you every time, it sounded so wrong, so broken. You ignited yours as well, the green blade reflecting off the white salt on the ground. Much to Kylo’s dismissal, you had not managed to achieve a blood red blade just yet.

And you didn’t want to, but he didn’t need to know that.

Being apart from everyone you loved at the Resistance, from your friends and family, you realized that the life you were living right now wasn’t what you wanted. All that was promised to you didn’t come and wouldn’t, no matter how hard you worked for it, you were sure of that. Your love for Poe might be able to blossom but he was the enemy.

Those dismissive thoughts were buried deep down in your mind, preventing Kylo from seeing them and killing you.

You didn’t listen to the conversation between Kylo and Skywalker until the elderly legend looked at you.

“You don’t belong here; we can both feel it.” Your eyes widened at his words, staring at him in disbelieve but also with.. hope. Hope for a second chance, a second chance with Poe.

“You regret it, you’ve realized the madness of his actions, haven’t you?”

You wanted to nod but felt Kylo’s eyes glued to your face. He studied you closely, waiting for your reaction. A mistake was not allowed, you couldn’t slip up now.

“There’s still light in you, I can see it.” “Stop with this nonsense! You have already dealt enough damage!”, Kylo roared as he attacked Luke, who swiftly dodged every of his attacks.

Your lightsaber didn’t move towards him. It dropped to the ground with a dull thud, the salt flying through the air around it. Everything around you seemed to slow down.

This was wrong, the right option is right there in front of you in that base. He was there. How could you have been so blind?

Your legs carried you past the Kylo’s rage and towards the base, you knew he was still there.

And he watched you run to him.

At first, he wasn’t sure if this was real or if he was dreaming, maybe you were coming to them with bad intentions. In that moment, he didn’t care much. He just wanted to hold you again, even if that would be his last act.

The speed of your heart-beat increased with every step you took. You missed him so much. Would he still love you as well, despite everything?

Poe didn’t notice the others stepping back when you reached them, the First Order closing in behind you as well. They didn’t trust you anymore, how could they?

You both stopped in front of each other. Soft hands slowly wrapped around yours, pulling you closer ever so gently. His beautiful brown eyes were glossed over with wet tears, tears full of hope.

His lips quivered, his voice barely above a whisper as he spoke :

“(Y-Y/N)?”

The hesitant way he asked made your heart clench but hearing your name drip from his lips made your stomach churn with adoration. A nod was all you could offer as an answer, tears of pure happiness were streaming down your cheeks, if you opened your mouth, you were sure a sob would have escaped.

Finally, after days of guilt and sadness ate you up, he engulfed you in a warm, familiar hug. And it made you break down; everything broke out of you. You cried against his chest, mumbling “I’m sorry” “I love you, I’m so sorry..” over and over while Poe ran a hand through your hair.

His soft lips touched your head, his cheek leaning on it soon after. “It’s okay.. I forgive you..”

You pulled away from him slightly and just kissed him. His tears mixed with yours, the kiss didn’t last long due to you two being a crying and smiling mess.

“I missed you so much.. I know I can never undo what I’ve done, I thought it was right, I thought I did it for us..”

Poe planted a gentle kiss onto your forehead, his hands squeezing yours gently. “What matters is that you found your way back..”

You scoffed at his comment, a smile creeping onto your lips as Poe wiped away your tears.

“We need to go..”

You fled with the rest of the Resistance; Poe didn’t let go of your hand for the entire journey. He knew he wouldn’t be able to forget what you had done, but he could look past it. The real you came back to him, like he had always hoped.

There is always hope, no one’s ever really gone.

#poe dameron #poe dameron x reader #poe dameron x you #poe dameron oneshot #poe dameron angst #poe x reader #star wars #star wars x reader #star wars oneshot #star wars angst #the last jedi

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