Chapter Text
“…needless to say, Obi-Wan figured us out pretty quickly,” Ahsoka laughed. The sound was one that Luke, admittedly, found himself melting at. It seemed so natural to hear Ahsoka laugh, for the two of them to share their mirth in such an intimate manner, and the warmth that spread through him was palpable. “He gave us a pretty lengthy lecture, but he didn’t report the mix-up to the Council, so we considered that a win.”
Even in experiencing those final few moments with his father, Luke could not claim to have known him well – or even at all. But Ahsoka had, in a familial sense of her own, and he found himself so instantly drawn to her. This woman had lived throughout the most significant moments in recent history and come out in a state that wasn’t quite unscathed but still functional… She was impressive to an extent that he could not quite express. Ahsoka seemed to retain some youthful quality that endeared her to Luke without question, but the vague hints of experience and maturity allowed him to heed her advice at any point.
The grin on his face did not fade, he was certain, but he could feel the beginnings of heartbreak swelling in his chest. “So… you trained with my father and Ben?”
Ahsoka’s smile also did not fade, but a heartbreak of her own was far more evident than Luke’s, and he could sense the inklings of pain that radiated off of her. “Yes. They trained me, both of them, though Obi-Wan less directly than Anakin.” Words failed her, for a moment, and she seemed to be searching for a particular way to phrase her thoughts; when she found it, a flame burned behind her bright blue eyes. “They were the best of the Order. Not just because of their strength, but because of the way they were just so uniquely… Skywalker and Kenobi. Seeing them in action was awe-inspiring – the way they always seemed to instinctively read the other’s actions, could co-ordinate strategy unlike anyone else… I learned as much fighting alongside them in the field as I did in my formal training.”
Luke had to bite his tongue to keep from bombarding Ahsoka with questions. He wanted to know everything – about his father, about Ben, about Ahsoka, about the Order – but he thought it best to spread it out and focus on one thing at a time. In this case? His mother.
“So then… Mother must have known Ben, too…” Ahsoka nodded and Luke frowned. “He never told me about her. I didn’t think to ask, but… I wish I had. I wish I’d known.”
Ahsoka’s brow creased a touch in thought. “I can’t say for certain if Obi-Wan actually… knew the extent of Anakin and Padmé’s relationship. I’m sure he suspected. Maybe he did know, I’m not sure, but… Whatever the case. Whatever his motivation. I’m sure he cared for you and wanted what was best.” She gave him a small, sad smile. “He didn’t say it, but Obi-Wan loved Anakin like a brother, and would have treated your family as his own, if circumstances had been… different.”
It had been years, now, since Ben’s death. Luke was learning more and more about his first mentor as time passed, and he kept discovering more and more reasons to resent him, but he couldn’t find it in himself to be particularly upset with him anymore. The war was a thing of complexity, its causes and motivations varying between factions and individuals, and Luke had learned to forgive those who had been driven to act on dire circumstances. He wasn’t particularly happy about the things that had been kept from him, but he did not have the heart to resent Ben any further.
“I suppose it’s better late than never,” Luke said. At least he would get to know who his mother was, and he would get to see her homeworld. Without Ahsoka, there was a very good chance he would have been forced to wait until much later than now to learn of her, or perhaps may not have even discovered who she was at all. “Thank you. Thank you for this. For telling me about her and taking me to see her resting place.”
When he’d approached High Command to inquire about leave to Naboo with Ahsoka at his side, a funny expression had passed over Mon Mothma’s face. She exchanged a brief but significant look with Ahsoka, and a few moments of tense silence passed before she nodded curtly and granted Luke his leave almost immediately. None of the other members of Command were interested in arguing with her, nor did they seem to have any significant objections, so they’d departed that evening. Luke was glad it wasn’t something he had to fight for. He wasn’t quite sure he wanted to explain the significance of Naboo to them just yet or reveal the identity of his mother to anyone else when he hadn’t even had the chance to tell Leia yet. Ahsoka had been prepared to argue in his favour without giving away anything he wasn’t ready to, but he was pleased that it hadn’t come down to that.
“I’m glad to do it, Little Skyguy,” she said, her own smile brimming with warmth and tenderness. “Better late than never to get to know you, too. I’ll confess I do wish we could have connected during the war, but there was a time when I was otherwise occupied, and when I’d learned your name it was too late to help you.” Something wistful and melancholy worked its way into her eyes as she gazed at him, and as they allowed that briefest of time pass, something stretched between the two of them. Luke could feel a true sort of connection beginning to form.
“Well,” he said, his words feeding into the bond, “I’m glad for the opportunity to know you now. And perhaps it’s for the best. Maybe even the will of the Force. As much as I could have used your help during the war, I need it now even more. And… it might have complicated things with Father, if you’d been around.” It had already been complicated enough with Ben and Yoda.
Growing suddenly very sombre, Ahsoka bit her lip and took a moment before responding. “Yeah…” She seemed to be wrestling with herself, trying to decide if it was worth it to say what was on her mind, or perhaps attempting to find the right words. Finally, she sighed, and the tension in her face slackened. “Luke… what you did for Anakin… I’m not sure even I considered it possible. Just know that… Padmé would have been proud of you. I’ve already said it, but it bears mentioning again. Your faith… Your conviction… Your strength… They all come from her, you know. And if anyone else would have thought it possible to save your father, it would have been Padmé. There’s no question that you’re her son. And… I’m really glad that, in the end, it was you who was next to Anakin as he passed on into the Force.”
He could feel the blush creeping across his cheeks, and he avoided her gaze. “Thank you. That means more than you could know.”
Ahsoka smiled and nodded, and they allowed a few more moments of silence to tick on before she perked up, a thought occurring to her. “I just remembered – Padmé has family still living on Naboo. Last I heard, the Naberries are still in Theed. Your grandparents, aunt, cousins… I’m sure they’d love to meet you.”
Instantly, Luke perked up, and a thrill fluttered in his chest at the thought of having more living family. “Mother had a sister?”
“Sola,” Ahsoka replied. “And her daughters – your cousins – Ryoo and Pooja. I think they’re just a few years older than you are.”
A faint memory tickled the back of his skull, and he dug in to try and work out just what was being sparked. Something about that sparked familiarity… “Pooja Naberrie,” he muttered, considering when his lips had formed the name before. He’d never met her, but he did know her name. “She served as the Senator for Naboo, didn’t she?” Leia would talk about her time in the Senate, and though Luke could never keep track of the names of all the senators, he remembered this one. Naboo and Alderaan had been close, and Leia spoke of Pooja like an old friend.
“She did,” Ahsoka confirmed.
Luke laughed, shaking his head. “Leia’s not going to believe this.”
Knitting her brows together, Ahsoka took a moment to make the connection. “Leia? As in… Organa?” Luke nodded. “I suppose that makes sense, Padmé was always close with Bail. She’d probably have served with Pooja. I don’t know the Princess very well, but our paths did cross from time to time during the earlier days of the Rebellion, back when I was serving as a Fulcrum agent.”
“You’ve spoken to Leia before? Oh, she’s going to really not believe this.” He was laughing even harder, now, which only served to heighten Ahsoka’s apparent confusion. “I’m going to have to comm her when we get to Naboo.”
“What do you mean?”
“When she finds out that not only did Father’s old apprentice take me to Naboo to meet our living relatives, but she also served in the Alliance with said former apprentice and in the Senate with one of our cousins, she’s going to have a fit. I have to tell her as soon as I can. She’d never forgive me if I put it off.”
Ahsoka blinked at him a few times, her expression bewildered for a moment before the realization dawned on her and understanding wrote itself onto her features. “Twins… of course Anakin had twins.” When she’d recovered, she gave him an odd look. “You didn’t grow up together, though.”
“No… I lived on Tatooine with my aunt and uncle.”
Her lips twisted wryly at that. “Obi-Wan knew what he was doing, I’ll give him that. Stashed you on the one planet Anakin would never think to return to. He never spoke about it much but… I know how much contempt he holds for that planet. It is unfortunate that you had to grow up apart from your twin, though.” She was solemn for a moment before a glimmer sparked in her eye. “Though, given who your parents were, that might have been for the best. Anyone having to raise two of Anakin and Padmé’s children would really have their work cut out for them.”
“Considering my childhood and what Leia’s told me about hers,” Luke chuckled, “you’re probably right.”
They continued chatting lightly as their journey chugged along. Luke avoided asking too many questions too quickly, hoping that maybe he could get some information from his family, as well, but Ahsoka seemed happy to share stories from her time with the Jedi. She carefully avoided bringing up why she left – though she did talk a little bit about life after the Order – but she was clearly glad to have someone listen to her stories with such enthusiasm.
Luke shared a little bit more about his life, too, though his weren’t nearly as fascinating as Ahsoka’s. Even so, she listened intently, prompted him to tell more, and asked questions from time to time. After feeling so distant from his friends for the last few weeks, he was overjoyed to have someone like Ahsoka at his side. She was bright and friendly and kind, and she was offering him companionship in a way that he sorely needed right now.
After several hours, their ship came out of hyperspace, and Luke felt his eyes blow wide at the sight that stretched out before them. He’d always known Naboo would be beautiful. He’d adjusted to seeing lush, green worlds since leaving Tatooine. He’d heard the stories about what a shining jewel of the galaxy this world really was. But he still let out an audible gasp at precisely how beautiful it really was.
Crystalline blues and emerald greens were all he could see stretching over the world hanging betwixt the stars splayed out like a canvas before him. It seemed to almost glitter like one of those distant specks of light, enticing anyone who would lay their eyes on it. Lazy clouds swirled over the landscape, and if he looked closely, he could see a crisp white snow-topped mountain range snaking across the land. If this is what the world looked like from above, what beauty awaited him on the surface?
“Welcome to Naboo, Luke,” said Ahsoka as she draped an arm around his shoulders and pulled him close. A significance and weight existed within those words that Luke could feel in the recycled air of their ship, and he was subconsciously returning and leaning into her touch.
Part of him had come from here. Part of him was home here. Everything about this moment felt correct, and he couldn’t help but send a nod of appreciation into the Force. It certainly worked in mysterious ways, and it was working in every one of those ways now.
He couldn’t wait to see what it would bring next.