Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Anakin has sensed the disturbance in the Force from the moment he, Obi-Wan, Ahsoka, and Padme landed here for their brief vacation away from the war and politics, but now that they're out here near the swamps, it's only growing steadily stronger.

"It's coming from over there," Obi-Wan observes as they sit on the bank of the swampy-like lake. It's much deeper farther out, but Anakin doesn't dare venture too far out. He doesn't see anything out of the ordinary, but the Force is definitely insisting otherwise.

"I think we should stay away," Anakin says cautiously, eyeing it. He's almost certain he can feel traces of the Dark Side here too, though everything still looks perfectly peaceful. He doesn't trust the strange, jumbled feelings at all.

"I'm going to get a closer look," Obi-Wan declares, apparently deciding to completely ignore all common sense and logic.

"We don't know what could be in there," he warns, as Obi-Wan starts forwards into the lake.

"That's why I'm going to take a closer look," he insists, setting off.

Fine. Fine. If his master is going to be stupid and go in there, Anakin won't leave him to be stupid alone. This just might be another mess he will have to drag his master out of.

"Wait there," Anakin calls over his shoulder to Padme and Ahsoka and starts after Obi-Wan.

"Are you sure about this, Master?" Ahsoka objects.

"No," he says flatly, "Just wait for us; we'll be right back."

"You think we're just going to wait while you walk into that?" Padme demands crossing her arms.

Anakin would've taken the time to respond, if the Force hadn't suddenly started to surge, a strange ripple running through it.

Oh great. What has Obi-Wan gotten himself into this time?! Hoping that Ahsoka and Padme are going to do as he asked, Anakin takes off into the water after his definitely insane, former master.

The swamp looks perfectly normal once Anakin makes it to where he thinks Obi-Wan is, but something is very, very wrong. They need to get out of here, before –

Anakin and Padme are right behind him, and he's about to order them to turn back so whatever strange Dark Side thing is about to happen won't affect them too, but he doesn't have the chance. The Force almost curls around him with an intensity so thick it's nearly tangible. There's a blinding flash of light, before everything blacks out.

***

The first thing that Anakin registers when he opens his eyes again is that everything feels... different. Not in a way he can put into words, but it's just... wrong.

"What –" a strangely deep voice says, and Anakin's head snaps to the side to see Ahsoka – or at least someone who must be Ahsoka – slowly pushing herself – himself?! – up into a sitting position.

She suddenly looks taller and distinctly physically different, very much in the way male Togrutas look. And she – he?! – feels slightly different in the Force, too. But his markings are exactly the same as Ahsoka's used to be, and those are unique to each person, so it must be her.

With sudden growing alarm, Anakin looks down at himself. His robes are suddenly way too big, and his hair is much longer. His arm is still mechanical, but even that looks different. And – no, no, no – this cannot be happening. Clearly. He has just gone completely insane because there is no way he just turned into a woman.

Anakin turns her head to the side, to see a much too familiar looking man with dark brown hair – in clothes much too small now – also slowly sitting up, looking hopelessly confused. Near him, one very, very grumpy redhead who – No, that cannot be Obi-Wan.

This isn't happening. It can't be. That's impossible. This is the stupidest nightmare he – she – has ever had. It must be. He'll wake up momentarily, and Ahsoka will laugh at him for having such an outrageous dream... right? Except this is very much real. The Force feels the same, unchanged, though in turmoil.

"Tell me I'm dreaming," Anakin says flatly.

"What in the blazes just happened?" demands Obi-Wan, and Anakin nearly cringes at the sound of... her voice.

"No way," Ahsoka says disbelievingly. "Absolutely not. This isn't happening."

"Oh no." Padme, this time, and it's most jarring to hear... his voice. If this is some kind of prank, Anakin does not find it funny.

Anakin catches Ahsoka's wide-eyed, half-horrified expression, and after a few moments of everyone gaping at each other, Anakin laughs. Because this is too insane. It's too outrageous. He just got turned into a woman for no apparent reason, and his – her?! – wife is now a man, and her padawan is suddenly a boy.

Then Padme laughs, and Ahsoka laughs, until they're giggling like mad.

"I fail to find our predicament amusing," grumbles Obi-Wan.

She has a point, like she always does, because absolutely nothing is funny, and Anakin has no idea why she can't stop laughing.

"Either you laugh or cry," Padme supplies, and Anakin almost orders everyone to be quiet from how terrible they sound. Instead, she glances at Ahsoka, and they both burst out laughing again.

"I sensed the Dark Side there," Anakin declares once everyone finally recollects themselves – somewhat. She's completely mind-blown and the others feel the same way in the Force.

"It might've been a Sith trap of some kind, but I fail to see the purpose," Obi-Wan sighs, "Or how to reverse it. We may see something if we go back."

"Go back?" Ahsoka repeats, "You want to go back there, after we got turned into... this?!" He wildly gestures to his body. "No, thanks! What if we get our species changed next?!"

"That could be dangerous, Master," Anakin warns. Ugh, she sounds awful. So messed up she almost just wants to crawl into a hole and die. But if they don't go back into the swamp, then what? They can't act as though nothing happened, unless they do awaken from this insane dream... or nightmare.

"We can't return to Coruscant like this," Obi-Wan retaliates, climbing back into the swamp.

"Good luck," Anakin calls after. She's not about to go over there herself again. If something bad happens, at least one full-trained Jedi should be around. Can she be called that anymore though? She doesn't know.

***

Ahsoka and Padme are splashing around in the water when a very grumpy Obi-Wan returns, otherwise unchanged. Moving is... weird. Wrong. Different. Ahsoka loathes this. It feels weird, not to mention being downright humiliating. How is this even possible?! Ahsoka has dealt with everything under the sun after becoming a padawan, but this is apparently crazier, because she has neither seen nor heard of something this outrageous.

Anakin is laying on the bank of the water, staring up at the sky, but Ahsoka finds that moving is no stranger than holding perfectly still, and it's not as if he'd be able to sleep under these circumstances. This is worse than a nightmare. This is reality, but the craziest one he's ever experienced, and far more outrageous than he could have imagined or heard.

"Nothing," Obi-Wan reports, splashing to shore. "I only know of one person who could help us."

Anakin groans. "No. Absolutely not. I do not want anyone to know about this."

"We don't have a choice," Padme replies unhappily. "I'm still a Senator."

"We can't let the public find out about this!" Ahsoka protests.

Anakin outright groans. "Someone kill us now and spare us this embarrassment."

Ahsoka is fairly certain everyone seconds this, because he certainly does. Obi-Wan is suggesting they go to the Council with this load of insanity, and that will mean needing to explain what happened. This is...

Ugh.

He wants this to be over with.

It's even more unsettling that Ahsoka isn't really thinking like Ahsoka anymore. He doesn't feel like she used to, and that's almost more maddening than the fact that his body is suddenly totally different. Even his lekku are a little different, and the weight is throwing him off and driving him crazy.

"We'll need to dress in something proper if we talk to the Council," Padme points out, which is how, an hour later, they find themselves standing in front of the said hologram... after basically swapping clothes. The former boys, now girls, take some of Padme's more... presentable attire in their words (Anakin was sulking that there's nothing gold, and Ahsoka couldn't help gaping at her because since when did Anakin care what he wore?!), and Padme and Ahsoka borrowed some of theirs.

And the Council stares.

"We had a... situation," Obi-Wan begins, awkwardly. "We may have fallen into a Sith trap, and..."

Ahsoka makes a point of studying the designs on the walls; at least it gives him something to look at, though tracing the pattern is slightly harder than it used to be. He brushes it off as yet another oddity.

There are many moments of awkward silence following Obi-Wan explaining the situation, and he finds himself wondering if the Council believes a word of this.

"Hmm. Embarrassing this is," Master Yoda says at last, as if he's trying not to laugh.

"What do we do?" Anakin asks, and Ahsoka picks up an even greater note of 'I want to crawl into a hole and die there, never bother me again' from the Knight.

"Return to Coruscant," Master Windu orders, and Ahsoka is startled by how amused he sounds. He's always so serious. He never finds anything funny, except this, apparently, and Ahsoka doesn't appreciate that one bit. "We'll see what we can do."

"Is there a way to undo this?" Obi-Wan inquires.

"I have never heard of anything like it," Windu admits, which is... Great. Ahsoka does not want to be stuck like this for the rest of his life. Absolutely not. He's used to... well, being a she, even if this doesn't feel entirely wrong or anything. The body feels completely foreign, and it would take months of getting used to, not that Ahsoka has any desire to get used to it. "You must return to Coruscant immediately."

***

Obi-Wan is so, totally, completely, entirely done. She never would have guessed this is what would happen if she went into that area where the Dark Side was strongest. She thought it was something deadly, yes, but she would never have guessed it could... kill in such a strange manner.

She's always loathed the healers wing on principle, and so had Anakin. If they're stuck here, at least they're together, but this is a new form of maddening. She wants to hide from the outside world, but as a Council member and a General in a war, there are too many responsibilities to hide from... even if she had been given a short leave time.

And this is...

Obi-Wan can think of many words for it, none of which she'll use.

Ranting about the ridiculous predicament will change nothing, so she tries to let it go like she was so used to, except... it's hard. Very hard. So much harder than it used to be, and she wants to scream simply from frustration.

Aside from getting used to the absolute oddity of being a girl, she's smaller and if a solution isn't found, she'll have to relearn to fight. That's the biggest problem, and one she knows the others will face as well. Ahsoka is used to it; as a child, her – his? – fighting style is always changing, even if its normal changes are gradual, they are changes regardless. Anakin... Anakin will need to change her style entirely, at least in lightsaber combat, because she's physically incapable of what she used to be.

"I've never seen anything like this," the healer tells them at last, something Obi-Wan had really figured out, thank you very much. "It appears you are genetically identical to what you used to be, only the opposite gender. I don't believe there is anything we can do."

No. Absolutely not. "We're going to stay like this?!" she demands. Her new voice sounds so wrong she still has to think for a moment every time she talks because it doesn't sound like her. The same is true for all the others too. She can't imagine them being stuck like this forever. It's such a nightmare she doesn't even want to think about it.

"Unless the Sith trap wears off eventually on its own, I am afraid that you will," she replies sympathetically, before telling them that they're free to leave for now. (At least she's not laughing like practically everyone else.)

"Now what?" Ahsoka demands, looking between them.

"Looks like we're stuck like this," Anakin declares, crossing her arms awkwardly. Obi-Wan will never get used to seeing her former padawan as a girl, even if she admittedly used to act an awful lot like one before anyway.

"We won't be able to keep this a secret," Padme says, looking more than a little unhappy.

Right. Great. Because apparently this can get even more humiliating. "People will find out, even if we take steps to keep it secret," Obi-Wan agrees grudgingly. No, she is definitely not looking forward to taking one step out of the medbay even if she's sick of being cooped up here.

"I can't send someone to the Senate in my place for long," Padme points out.

"And Obi-Wan can hardly continue to be a Council member without word getting out," Anakin agrees, sounding much too cheerful given the situation. She really does seem to be taking this the best, or maybe it's just Obi-Wan's perception.

"We may have to make a public statement about it," Obi-Wan

"Is that really necessary?" Ahsoka huffs, crossing her arms.

"It'll be simplest, rather than having all sorts of strange rumors flying everywhere," Anakin points out.

"Fine," Ahsoka huffs.

In all honesty, Obi-Wan doesn't think she's felt grumpier in her life. And for a moment, she wonders if that's partly a result of her gender swap, but she has no idea. All she does know is that even attempting to release some of her frustration into the Force doesn't seem to be working nearly as well as it used too. But given the situation, she thinks she can give herself a pass on that right now anyway.

"One other thing," Anakin says, hesitantly, "Our names."

Obi-Wan scowls. "What about them?"

"I see your point," Padme replies, looking to Anakin, "'Padme' is not a male name. and neither is Ahsoka."

"I don't want to change my name," Ahsoka protests.

"I don't think we wanted any of this to change," Anakin points out.

This is getting worse and worse with each passing moment. Seriously. "I'll keep mine the same," Obi-Wan decides, "It's close enough to being gender neutral anyway."

Coming up with names is a little easier than Obi-Wan was anticipating, though she mostly just sits there letting them try to figure it out on their own. It's not as if people changing their names in the middle of their lives is completely unheard of, but this a million levels of ridiculous.

But now that they're done here, it's time to deal with this public statement. Wonderful. As if they didn't already have enough to deal with the war and everything.

***

Padme – Paufre, actually – has never been more grateful in... his life than when they're finally allowed to leave the medbay. However, this means that he'll have to meet everyone he used to know, which will be beyond awkward.

Sabe is there when he gets back, and she, for whatever reason, is under the impression this is somehow amusing. There's one very, very long awkward moment of silence before she finally finds her voice. "We don't look identical anymore."

"No," Paufre agrees, which he is none too happy about. "Which makes it unfortunate we had to announce this to the public."

"I decline the offer of taking your place in the Senate for an extended time period," she argues, "I don't know how you stand the corruption."

"Me neither," he agrees with a huff, "But I need a new wardrobe now."

"You got gender swapped and that's your first concern," Sabe says, half amused, half teasing. "Have you talked to your family yet?"

"No," he replies, grumpily. Not other than Anakin – Anika – of course. This is by far the most embarrassing thing that's ever happened to her... him, and no one knows how to deal with it. She – he – officially despises whoever put that Sith trap there at that lake.

"They were already calling," Sabe tells her much too cheerfully, "I think I could get Sola on the line right now if you want."

"Fine. Might as well get it over with," Paufre concedes. Putting it off isn't going to make it any easier.

"They already heard a little about what happened, if it's any comfort," Sabe chirps, as she dials in the frequency, and then steps aside to give Paufre a little more privacy.

"Wow," Sola drawls as she picks up the call, "So, you really weren't joking about this. Wait, this is you, isn't it?"

"You really think I would pull a stunt like this in public as a prank?" Paufre asks flatly.

"Hard to say with you, little brother," Sola smirks.

"Why does everyone think this is funny?!" Okay, maybe he does too – but funny in a way that is very much not funny.

"What if one day I called you and told you that I randomly turned into a man with no warning? Don't deny you wouldn't think it's funny," Sola retorts smugly.

Paufre rolls his eyes. "Well, if you want any of my old clothes, you can have them."

"Right," she muses, "How are you managing with all that?"

"I'll be doing plenty of ordering for new clothes," he replies. His former love for fashion is... not as strong as it used to be, or maybe it's just the frustration of the situation, but there's still plenty of fancy clothes he can wear, even if he's not a woman anymore. Art is appreciated no matter what the gender on Naboo, after all.

"You have more clothes than I could ever pick from. But if you want to send some over to me, go ahead," Sola offers.

Or maybe Paufre can save some as a gift for Anika. If she would appreciate it. She doesn't care much for clothes at all, which is hardly a surprise when the Jedi have no sense of fashion whatsoever.

"So, what's it like to be a boy?" Sola asks, and this time sounds genuinely curious, even if there's an obvious teasing note in her voice.

"I don't know how I'm supposed to answer that. But... everything like... works differently. I don't even know how to explain," he responds, "And it's going to take a lot of getting used to."

"I can imagine," she agrees, "But I probably shouldn't keep you. Mom and Dad would like to call you later today."

"Right. To say hello to their new son," Paufre replies dryly, "Tell them I'll be available." He hangs up, leaving it at that. Well, this is going a little better than he expected. But he can't imagine having to spend the rest of his life like this.

Paufre isn't sure if the first Senate meeting he goes to after all this madness happened goes better or worse than expected. There's a great deal of... amusement from people he's running into – and some don't believe that he's really her in the first place. It's pretty expected though, even if it's an additional frustration.

Still, he's long since gotten used to dealing with people making fun of him, so it doesn't bother him that much. Actually, it seems to bother him less now than it used to. Maybe it's an effect of having a biologically different brain completely, he doesn't know.

He will have to do something about having people to take his place in the Senate, though. And that's going to be more complicated because it's not like men wear makeup.

Everything about his new status just feels strange and wrong. It's not like men aren't political leaders on Naboo – they are all the time – but at the same time, it feels like he almost doesn't belong in the Senate anymore. It was Padme who was once the queen the Senator, not him. Well it was him, but... Ugh, this is so confusing.

Traditionally on Naboo the men tend to be fighters while women are leaders, not that there's anything against them having the opposite roles. It's just generally how it is, so staying here in the Senate – and having to change so much because he's now a man – just feels... odd. He needs time to think about it, though. He never thought he was planning to stay in the Senate for the rest of his life, but he finds himself thinking again about what he would do if he left.

More than anything, he'd love the thought of settling somewhere on Naboo with his... um, wife. Okay, this is a million levels of weird. And having Anika at the same height as him instead of way taller is also beyond awkward, but he'll have to get used to it. Still, he doesn't want Anika to have to leave the Order for him anymore than he'd wanted that before.

He needs some time to think about and adjust to all of this.

***

"I know, I know, this really is creepy," Ahsoka – Ashan, actually – grumbles. "I'll have to get used to it, but I don't want to!" He hates talking, but he hates almost everything about existence at this point, because he misses the voice – and person entirely – that Ahsoka used to be.

"I truthfully don't know what to tell you," Barriss admits. "I have never heard of such a situation before."

"No one has," Ashan sighs, "But it's ours to deal with."

He loathes this. They need to relearn to fight, which is extremely difficult. Ahsoka used to rely on agility and size to fight, but that's no longer a luxury he has. Anika and Obi-Wan are having the same problem, so there's no one to teach him, except maybe Master Plo, and Ashan doesn't want to bother him. The entire situation is downright embarrassing.

That's how he and Barriss ended up together in the training salles, so he can practice with her.

As it turns out, jumping lightsaber-first at people is very effective now, but Ashan has literally no idea how to land properly after that, which makes it difficult. He's altering his style to be something a little more force than speed, though speed is still... preferred.

It's difficult because of how irritable he's feeling, though he knows annoyance will only interfere with his learning abilities. It's something Anakin taught him ages ago, but it feels like he's randomly regressed in everything he used to know and its maddening.

"The worst part is how different my mind is," he grumbles.

"What's the best part?" Barriss asks.

He's about to snap that there's nothing good about this and nor could there ever be but remembers ages ago when Anakin once said that there's a good and a bad to everything. Ahsoka had struggled with learning that. Everything was clear cut and simple to her, and it still is. There's a right and a wrong, a good and a bad. It was never like that for Anakin, and Ashan can only be glad that's one thing that never changed.

"Well, I am less emotional," Ashan admits. "I don't know if that's a good thing, but I feel less inclined to cry and more inclined to rip someone's head off – not that I'd do either."

"I suppose there are pros and cons to every situation," Barriss agrees, as they slowly circle around each other again before Ashan lunges forwards. He tries to keep up with Barriss as their blades clash, but this is still taking a lot of getting used to since he's not used to fighting like this and keeps trying to go back to using his size which... soon ends with him landing very unceremoniously on the floor, dropping his lightsabers.

Ashan lets out a huff of frustration as he climbs back to his feet.

"You'll get used to it eventually," Barriss assures him.

"I wish I didn't have to."

"I know. But we don't always have that choice to make."

He sighs. Yes. Barriss is right, but it's beyond maddening. It's not like it's only him, though. Anika and Obi-Wan are having difficulties of their own re-learning how to fight. Anika can hardly rely on strength like she used to, so she's having to learn a slightly altered version of the same form, which... is not as good at lightsaber combat. Ashan tries to assure himself that it's good because his master won't be able to beat her literally one-handedly anymore, but he can't deny feeling bad about it.

And until she's used to it, Ashan will probably spend a lot more of his time practicing with Barriss... and anyone else who he doesn't find it too weird or embarrassing.

***

Just avoiding everyone she used to know as much as possible seems like the best idea right now, Obi-Wan thinks crossly as she makes her way through the halls of the Temple, trying to go about Council business as normal. Most people don't so much as look at her twice. Why would they, after all? There are thousands of Jedi. No one knows all of them and seeing one you don't remember seeing before isn't unusual.

It's easiest to just spend most of her time with Anika, as they both try relearning how to fight.

She's so lost in her thoughts that she doesn't see him coming until he's standing right in front of her.

"Well, you look worse for wear," Quinlan Vos says lightly, patting Obi-Wan on the shoulder. "How's Temple life?"

She pointedly steps back away from him, pushing his arm aside.

"It's good to see you, too," he grins.

If only the feelings were mutual.

"You know, you're quite the sight as a woman."

She glares at him. "If you have nothing of use to say, I have matters to be attending to."

Vos laughs, and she really, really just wants to – She doesn't even know. "Yes, I imagine the situation is quite humiliating, but you really haven't changed all that much."

Sometimes, being around old classmates is the worst. Obi-Wan pushes past him, hurrying down the hall. She is in a hurry, after all. Just because she's here doesn't mean she gets to skip briefings.

Needless to say, the meeting with Vos makes her want to go see the 212th even less, but just because she isn't ready to go back out on the battlefield doesn't mean that she gets excused from helping plan battles. She still has as many duties as ever. So, she very reluctantly heads for the cruiser to discuss the ongoing conflicts on several planets that the 212th is still helping fight.

"We heard about what happened, sir," Cody pauses, then coughs, "Ma'am."

Ugh. This is ridiculous. "Yes, I imagine you did," she retorts, far less than impressed at the amount of amusement she feels in the room, even if everyone is keeping almost perfectly straight face.

Well, and there's a suspicious number of people who are all keeping their helmets on, so she can only imagine their expression underneath.

So long as no one mentions it, she supposes she can maybe tolerate it. Maybe.

***

"I'm almost as tall as you, now," Ashan observes, standing right in front of his master.

She looks down at the actually very tiny distance between the boy's montrals, and her own head. Yes. Unfortunately. This is not okay. It never will be, and now she feels bad for her own master... who she still towers over. "That you are," she agrees grudgingly. "This new height is... strange."

"I'm just glad I didn't get shorter," Ashan says flatly, "At least I'm only taller. I would have been eventually anyway."

"You're lucky, Snips," Anika sighs.

"I suppose you are the more unfortunate of us, Skygirl," he smirks.

"No, do not call me that," she protests.

"Why not?" he grins.

Anika finds herself chuckling quietly, despite the situation. Controlling her own emotions seems a lot harder as of late, for some reason. "How about we go see the boys?"

Ashan's amusement and glee at the nickname promptly vanishes. "Shouldn't we give them a forewarning before showing up like this?"

"I'm sure they already heard the rumors," Anika says smugly. "Come on."

So, before long, they find themselves landing on the 501st's main cruiser. Rex is the first there, waiting for them.

He looks as though he's trying very hard to keep a straight face as the two of them step off the shuttle. "I heard about the... public statement, General," Rex says, "But I didn't know what to think of it."

"I still don't," Ashan says flatly.

"What happened?" Rex queries.

"We were investigating a swamp that felt... wrong in the Force," Anika replies.

"You just walked right into it?" Fives asks, approaching them. He looks even more amused than Rex.

"Obi-Wan went it first," Ashan objects, "And Anakin was trying to stop him. I mean – her. Whatever."

"I didn't realize the 'Force' could do things like this," Rex replies skeptically.

"I didn't either," Anika admits, "But it was... a Sith trap of some kind."

"It's going to be... strange seeing you as a woman, ma'am," Fives has to point out.

Anika laughs quietly. "Yes, I'm sure it will be." She doesn't even know how she'll get used to it, but she'll have to. Somehow.

"It might be a little while before we go out on a mission again," Ashan informs them, "Since we have to relearn how to fight."

"I can imagine that wouldn't be... easy," Rex says sympathetically.

"Is this permanent?" Fives wonders.

"I don't know," Anika replies, "But unless the Sith trap wears off, it probably will be." And honestly, she doesn't know how that could happen. It doesn't really make sense with the Force. Well, none of this makes sense, but randomly changing genders again is probably even less likely. It seems like this is something that they're just going to have to accept and move on with.

Chapter Text

It's only a couple weeks after everything that happened that Obi-Wan is called to immediately come meet with Windu and Yoda, over some urgent transmission. She is not expecting it when a hologram of Satine appears on the holotable. "This is a message for Obi-Wan Kenobi," Satine says, a slightly panicked note in her voice, even if she's controlling it, "I've lost Mandalore. My people have been massacred. And Almec is now the prime minister. I can't explain everything now, but Almec has the support of the crime families. Obi-Wan, I need your help." The transmission cuts off at that, leaving Obi-Wan to her frantically spiraling thoughts.

Satine lost her planet? And Almec was supposed to be in prison, last she heard. How did he end up the prime minister again?

And it looks like she was captured at the very end of the transmission. Obi-Wan must admit to fearing about her friend's fate. But... she also notices right away that she definitely does not feel the same way she used to, towards Satine. Of course, she's still worried about her, but it's... different, and it's awkward.

"Your thoughts on this, Master Kenobi?" Windu inquires.

"Satine has been at odds with Death Watch for years, and according to a report from Padawan Tano they're no longer in leave with the Separatists," Obi-Wan answers, doing her best to consider the situation from a logical perspective. Personally, she would like nothing more than to run off and help her old friend right now, despite the awkwardness "If there was a takeover on Mandalore, it was most likely an independent act, caused by the Death Watch alone."

"Without involvement with the Separatists this is an internal affair for the Mandalorians," Windu responds, "I'm afraid we cannot help."

They can't do nothing. "We cannot just hand Mandalore over to these crime families and let Satine become a martyr," Obi-Wan protests. She still cares for her, even if they're only... friends now. And she doesn't want to sit back and do nothing, even if she understands the Council's objections.

"I'm afraid her decision to keep Mandalore neutral makes this situation difficult," Windu responds.

"Understand your feelings I do, Obi-Wan," Yoda responds, "But to take action, support from the Republic Senate we will need."

"You know what the Senate will decide," Obi-Wan protests, "They will not send aid to a neutral system." Arguing about it is pointless, but she must act.

"At this time, nothing more can we do," Yoda replies, and they drop the matter.

Obi-Wan heads out of the briefing room, still less than happy about the turn of events. This isn't something Satine will be able to handle on her own, not if Death Watch has entirely taken over the planet. She wants to intervene, but obviously, the Council won't act. Really, there's nothing they can legally do as Jedi, anyway.

But that doesn't mean there isn't anything she can do on her own. She could always intervene personally. Except it couldn't be an official Temple mission, so she could hardly take a ship from the Temple. Well... that's an easy fix. Anika should be around here somewhere, and Obi-Wan knows that she'll be willing to help.

***

"Can you pass me that?" Anika calls down, from where she's perched near the top of the Twilight, working on some repairs. They have more spare time than usual, since they won't be going back to the fronts until they're able to fight again, and they can't spend all day training even if they'd like to. It takes time to become accustomed to new lightsaber forms.

"Here," Ashan chirps, reaching up to pass the needed part up to her. Something he might once have been almost too small to do. It's still weird getting used to the new height differences and sizes. "How're you doing up there," he calls, a moment later.

"Almost done," Anika calls back, "And then we'll just have to fix the problem with the landing cycle."

"Then it will be as good as new," Ashan agrees.

"Yeah," she replies, looking up abruptly at the sudden sound of someone approaching. Obi-Wan step into view, a senseless frown plastered on her face, not as if that's unusual.

"Hey, Master!" she calls cheerfully, scooting to the edge of the ship and jumping to the ground.

"Anika," she acknowledges, "Do you have a ship I could borrow?"

Anika blinks. What? That's... one of the stranger requests she's ever gotten. "Why? What would you need a ship for?" That she couldn't use one from the Temple for?

Ashan stands up behind them, raising an eye marking as he watches.

"Satine needs my help, and the Jedi and Republic cannot officially get involved," she explains.

Wait, Satine? Speaking of Satine, Anika hadn't even thought about the awkwardness of her meeting Obi-Wan. Yes, this will be beyond weird. Not like now is the time to bring it up to her, though. She shudders at the thought of being gender-swapped if Padme hadn't been also. It's weird enough, now; that would be much worse.

"You're planning to go to Mandalore on your own?"

"Yes."

"I can come," Anika offers immediately, "It's not like we have anything more important to do here, and we could take the Twilight."

"Are you sure about that?" Ashan objects.

"It looks... like it could use some improvement," Obi-Wan agrees, crossing her arms.

"No, it's in flawless condition," she insists. Well, hardly, but it's close enough, and they don't have another ship they can take. It's the only one she personally owns other than her fighter, and that's a Temple ship.

"You mean other than how the landing cycle doesn't work?" Ashan retorts.

"It's the only option we have!" Anika defends, "Unless we... borrow someone else's."

"It will have to do," Obi-Wan concludes, "But you're responsible for it if this thing falls apart halfway to Mandalore."

***

"This is the last time I'm borrowing a ship from you," Obi-Wan decides flatly as she pushes the button to open the ramp, and it only opens halfway.

"You didn't actually borrow it, since she came, too," Ashan tells her sweetly.

She chooses to ignore that part, and stomps hard on the ramp to get it to go down. There's a Mandalorian official standing at the bottom of the ramp waiting for her when she gets there, who immediately asks for her landing permit, as expected.

"I left it on the ship. Why don't you come with me?" she proposes.

The guard nods his agreement, heading up onto the ship. The moment they're safety away from the ramp she spins around, slamming him over the head before he has a chance to react, and he collapses to the floor, unconscious.

"Slight problem," Anika observes, "We can't use his armor. It won't fit us."

Right. Obi-Wan scowls. To say this is the most frustrating and inconvenient thing that's happened to her would be an understatement. She doesn't know how she'll ever get used to it. "There has to be female Mandalorians whose armor we can take around here somewhere," she grumbles.

"Just not right by the ship," Anika agrees, "But we can maybe find someone by the prison."

"I guess I'll be stuck on the ship," Ashan concludes.

"You would have been regardless. A Togurta would stick out way too much," Obi-Wan adds.

"We might need a fast takeoff anyway," Anika points out.

Time to get moving. This is going to be far less than convenient, but they can manage. Hopefully.

It's much harder than it would have been otherwise for them to get all the way to the prison. For the most part, no one gives them a second glance because they look like normal civilians, and thanks to their new looks no one will really recognize them – apparently being gender swapped can be good for something – but it's harder when they have to get to the prison and have to find two female guards to distract and steal armor from in broad daylight.

Hiding the unconscious bodies somewhere that they hopefully won't be seen, the duo takes off for the prison levels. Time for the strangest reunion with Satine that she's ever had in her life.

No one looks at them twice as they make their way to the upper levels and find the right cell. Satine is sitting on the floor of the cell, her back facing them. "Here to do more of your master's bidding?" she asks bitterly, as the door opens.

"I do my own bidding," Obi-Wan replies, reaching up to take off her helmet, though she half wants to leave it on, because this is beyond awkward and embarrassing.

Satine stands up, turning to look at them almost warily. "Do I know you?" she questions, carefully.

Ugh, this stupid Sith trap. Why did she ever go into that swamp? "Now isn't the time to explain, but yes," Obi-Wan replies, "Come on." They need to get out of here as fast as possible.

***

"They have the Duchess! Stop them!" someone shouts from behind them.

Anika throws a brief glance over her shoulder, to see several Mandalorian guards activating their jetpacks, going in pursuit. She's driving, with Satine between them.

Obi-Wan pulls out the blaster on the guard's armor, shooting up at the guards chasing them. (So much for 'a Jedi does not carry a blaster'.) She decides now wouldn't be a good time to tease her master about it.

Anika swings the speeder to the side as several shots nearly take her head off, and increases the speed, zooming through the city towards the waiting ship. It would really do them good to have comms here, so she could tell Ashan to fire up the ship for a faster escape.

They've almost made it to the landing platform when a sudden dark feeling in the Force washes over Anika. The Dark Side. Wait, why does she feel the Dark Side here? There shouldn't be a Sith here.

She brings the speeder to an abrupt stop as she parks it on the landing platform, jumping off as the remaining guards circle into view over their heads, still shooting. Dodging out of the way, Anika finally whips out her lightsaber to deflect the blasts. Obi-Wan immediately draws her own as well, and Satine uses the distraction to run for the ship.

As soon as Satine is safely inside, they start backing away towards the ramp, when another speeder flies into view, and two much too familiar Zabraks climb out of the back.

"It can't be," Obi-Wan breathes, eyes widening the slightest amount. "Whatare they doing here?"

Maul and Savage stop, seeming quite taken aback at the sight of them standing there.

"I was hoping for Kenobi," Maul growls, "Why are you here?"

"That would be me," Obi-Wan tells him lightly.

The Sith's eyes narrow, and Anika is pretty sure he's reaching out with the Force, trying to figure out what in the world is going on here. "I knew you felt familiar," he growls, lowly, "It matters little. You are doomed, Jedi."

"I don't think so," she retorts, "I defeated you before. I can do so again. And this time, I'll aim for the neck."

Maul snarls, and lunges at them. Savage instantly moves forwards alongside his brother, igniting his double-bladed lightsaber and swinging for Anika's head as Maul goes for Obi-Wan. She brings up her blade to block the Zabrak, as he attacks her furiously.

This is not a good time to be fighting, when they're still getting used to their bodies. Almost instinctively, Anika nearly tries to switch back to the way she used to fight, using her strength against her opponent, but no, that is not going to work here, especially not against someone like Savage.

She used to fight much like how Ahsoka once did, since she once had to fight like that herself when she was young and still small, so she knows how to do it, even if she's no longer accustomed to it. Dodging the flailing lightsaber, Anika cuts lower, forcing the Zabrak to slow down for a second, blocking the blow.

Next to her, she can see Obi-Wan and Maul fighting furiously. And for the moment, Maul seems to have the slightest bit of advantage, also because Obi-Wan can't quite fight the same way she used to. But she could just be biding her time, Anika supposes.

She can still use the Force though, as clearly ever. Throwing out a hand, Anika sends Savage flying backwards, knocking over the Mandalorian guards who were landing behind him, then whirls and charges at Maul. The Sith kicks Obi-Wan back, spinning to meet Anika's blade. Their blades clash in a furious blur, and if anything, she thinks it's this that's forcing her to get accustomed to how she once used to fight. Either she does it, or she's going to lose her head to the Sith. Or a limb.

Obi-Wan is about to run forward to join them again, but Savage is on his feet, barreling towards her snarling furiously so she turns, attacking him instead. There's a sudden flash of green, and Ashan lands behind Maul, nearly taking his head off as she hits the ground. Maul whirls to block her blade, then spins to Anika's next blow. They're forcing him onto the defensive now, at least.

Ashan is fighting differently, and he's struggling, but stubbornly standing his ground. He's as stubborn as Ahsoka always was.

A sudden growl draws Anika's attention back to the other duel, right as Obi-Wan slashes through Savage's arm, and the Sith falls to the ground.

Maul lets out an incoherent roar of rage, throwing both Anika and Ashan aside and raising a hand, lifting Obi-Wan in a Force choke. "You will die for this, Jedi scum," he snarls.

Anika reacts in a flash, hurling her ignited lightsaber for the Sith's head. He drops his hold on Obi-Wan to duck the flying blade, and in his slight moment of distraction, Anika Force-shoves the Sith to the ground. Before he can get back up again, Ashan is standing over him, blades leveled at his neck.

Maul and Savage have been causing problems for everyone for far too long now, and they finally were able to capture them. It's surreal, and she's relieved they've finally been dealt with.

***

"I would still like to know what is going on here," Satine declares as they blast away from Mandalore, setting course for Coruscant, with Maul and Savage safely locked away in the hold. "What's this I'm hearing about you being... Obi-Wan?"

"Because I am," she answers. Time to explain this again. Being stuck here with Satine is by far the strangest meeting of everyone she used to know.

"But what..."

"The three of us were on a vacation, and we stumbled into a swamp that was... strong in the Force," Ashan pipes up, "And we came out like this."

"So, you're trying to tell me," Satine says, very slowly, "That you... got your genders swapped by stepping into a swamp."

"That's what happened," Obi-Wan agrees, crossing her arms, "It was something with the Force."

"I will never understand you Jedi and this Force." She's pretty sure that Satine is feeling as awkward about the whole situation as she is, if not more so.

"So, everyone has been telling us," Anika shrugs.

Satine looks over at the two of them. "Who are you? Did we meet before?"

"Formerly Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano," Obi-Wan informs, "Yes, you've met them before."

"How... widespread is this?" asks Satine.

"Just us, and Senator Amidala," Obi-Wan elaborates.

"Wait, Padme too," she asks incredulously.

"His name is actually Paufre now," Ashan offers, much too cheerfully.

***

It's been about a month since everything happened, and Paufre is starting to get a little more used to this, or at least things are getting a lot easier. He has to say he's noticed that his brain has finally stopped finding it strange that he wasn't acting like he used to.

His relationship with Sabe is... different, but they're still as close as ever, even if Sabe can no longer be his shadow like she once was. It's been weird to have to hire a few more people as security guards who look similar enough to take his place in the Senate if it becomes necessary, but it had to be done. It sticks out a lot more than it ever did for handmaids, though, so Captain Typho isn't the most satisfied with the new system, but there's nothing else they can do.

"It doesn't seem like this is going to change," Paufre comments as Anika settles onto the couch next to him.

"No, it doesn't," she agrees, "I think we'll just... have to get used to it."

"How has it been with you, at the Temple?" he asks.

"Still getting used to it," she replies. "It's strange having to get all new clothes too."

"I still have a few extra pairs of clothes that you could take," he offers. The handmaids were more than happy to take his endless supply, but there was a lot there.

"But when would I wear them?" Anika asks dryly, "Out on the battlefield? I could only use them here. Might as well leave them with people who will actually use them."

"I have, but just saying."

"I'm going to be leaving," she declares, after a moment, "Our break time here is over now. I'll be going back out to the front."

"That's got to be... odd," Paufre muses.

"Probably not much more than you having to deal with it in everyone you talk to at the Senate."

"True," he agrees. If nothing else, at least him and Anika still have time to be together.

***

Ashan knew the changes to him biologically were going to be frustrating when he got back out into the field, but he wasn't quite expecting it to be like this. Sure, he'd noticed the difference at the Temple, but it's far more jarring now. His montrals aren't quite the same as they used to be – they're a little smaller, and he knows they won't grow as much as they probably would have once.

His sensing isn't quite as good as it used to be – there's a reason the female Togurtas are generally the hunters – so his senses aren't quite as extended as they used to be. It's not extreme but he definitely notices it, out there when he's trying to sense the locations of the battle droids all around him.

"Ashan, punch a hole for the gunships to get through," Anika calls as the two of them fly their fighters amid the droids.

"I know the drill, Master," he calls back, diving forwards.

They haven't made it much farther before buzz droids are launched towards them.

Ashan instantly jolts his ship upwards, trying to twist it out of the way. "I've got buzz droids," his master says a moment later, "How bad did you get hit?"

"I'm all clear."

"What?" Anika exclaims, "You always have it easy, Snips."

"You need to find a new nickname for me," Ashan replies flatly, "That sounds weird."

They haven't made it much farther before Ashan notices the smoke trailing from her master's ship, and his anxiety instantly spikes. Anika might still be the best pilot ever, but there's a part of Ashan that finds himself more... protective of his master than he used to be. In a way, it's like it's more his duty to protect her.

"You're trailing smoke. What's wrong?"

"Nothing just a slight malfunction," she insists, only for a small explosion to ring out and the ship shakes violently, and their bond abruptly goes quiet. Oh yeah. A slight malfunction indeed.

"Master?" he calls, warily.

No response.

"Artoo! What's going on over there?!"

The droid beeps over the coms in response.

"What do you mean she's unconscious?!" Ashan exclaims. Fine. Time to go rescue her again. "Arseven, pilot the ship for me." Pushing the cockpit open, he climbs onto the wing of the ship. This is going to be harder than it once was, thanks to his larger size, but he'll have to manage. Balancing himself precariously on the edge, he leaps the distance between the ships, barely catching onto the wing. His feet go out from under him as the ship continues to speed right for the edge of the cliff, and he frantically tries to claw his way back onto it. It's a lot harder, and he's running out of time. A breath of frustration escapes him, as he clammers back onto the wing. "Artoo! Slow the ship down!"

The droid half-beeps, half-screams a reply. Ripping out his lightsaber, he slashes his blade into the side of the cockpit, grabbing ahold of Anika and yanking her off, only seconds before the ship goes plunging over the edge. Ashan leaps back for the ground nearly missing it in the process, landing right at the very edge. The ground starts to slide under them, and he frantically drags himself away from the edge, raising a hand and yanking his master to safety with the Force.

Breathing hard, Ashan drops to his knees next to her. "Master?

Anika's eyes blink open, and she looks around, confusion instantly filling her face. "Hey, Snips – Wait a moment! Where's my ship?! I thought I was flying!"

"You crashed. I saved the day. You're welcome," he snips. "It was only a small malfunction."

She looks only minorly less mind-blown than she did seconds before. "Where's Artoo?"

Right. "He went over the edge, and I –"

Right on cue, the droid lets out a loud beep, flying up over the edge.

"Artoo!" Ashan exclaims in relief.

Anika climbs a little unsteadily to her feet, and moves over to the droid, resting a hand on its dome.

"Seriously, are you alright?" Ashan queries, looking back to her master.

"I'm fine. I just hit my head," she replies. Which doesn't exactly sound like 'just fine' but Ashan doesn't pressure it. They have a battle to be getting back to.

***

Ashan would very much like to know why the person who literally bombed the Jedi Temple would want to talk to him. His anger is burning, and he does his best to tamp down on it as he heads to the prison to tell the guards what he's there for.

"What do you want, Letta?" he asks sharply, stalking into the cell. The woman is sitting in the corner of the room, her fear obvious in the Force, not that he's the least bit sympathetic about that. She blew up the Temple and killed so many people, for no reason. She is where she deserves to be, and Ashan bears no sympathy for her.

"I was told if I ever needed help, you were the Jedi to contact," she explains, a note of desperation in her voice. That's... odd. Why would someone tell Letta to contact him?

"Give us a minute," he requests of the guard, before turning to face the woman again, "I don't have all day, so I suggest you get whatever you have to say off your chest."

"The idea of feeding Jackar the nano-droids was not mine."

... what? That... was not what he was expecting to hear. "Why did you wait until now to bring this up?" he demands.

"Because my life is in danger!" she exclaims, "The person behind this will be able to get to me, unless you know the truth."

"So, who did it?"

"A Jedi. A Jedi told me how to create the bomb and how to put the nano-droids in."

"A Jedi?" he echoes disbelievingly. "Why would a Jedi do this?"

"There are some citizens of the Republic, like myself, who believe the Jedi Order is not what it used to be. The Jedi have become warmongers. They're killing when they should be keeping the peace! One of the Jedi agreed with me. One of them –"

"Who is it? You need to tell me," he interrupts. He's heard enough of the reasoning. He just needs an answer now.

"If you protect me, I will tell you, because it is obvious to me that I have been set up."

"I will. Just tell me who did it."

Letta hesitates again, looking around almost desperately. "It was –" She cuts off abruptly, eyes going wide and hands flying to her throat as an invisible force lifts her off the ground.

"Letta!" Ashan yells in alarm. He looks around the room, but there's no one else there. There should be no one else here! Someone is using the Force against her. He can tell that much, and...

He whirls around, sprinting out the cell door, just as the clones run into view.

"Someone else is in the facility!" he orders frantically, "You need to do a perimeter sweep immediately."

A resounding thud rings through the hall behind them, and Ashan spins around, running back to the entrance of the cell as Fox gives the order to search the area. Letta is lying on the floor, motionless. Ashan sprints to her side, kneeling next to her to check on her. One of the clones immediately joins him. "She's dead," he reports grimly.

It's what he feared. Now, there's no way for them to find out who was behind what happened. Unless the clones can find something as they investigate. He steps out of the cell again, going in search of Fox, to wait for him until the clones finish checking through the facility. They need to figure out what's going on here.

***

Ashan can't believe this could have happened, and it still doesn't make any sense to him. He's beyond furious that Barriss of all people did something like this, but he's confused too, and he really just wants some answers.

The Senate is demanding that Barriss be thrown out of the Order and turned over to Republic courts for trial – something Ashan is pretty sure they're going to agree to – but first, he asked for, and got, permission to see her one last time.

"Why would you do this?" he demands, standing on the other side of the ray-shield, looking into the cell where Barriss sits.

"Because I've come to realize what so many of us have come to realize," she answers, "That the Jedi are the ones who are behind this war, that we've so lost our way we've become the villains in this conflict. That we are the ones who should be put on trial. And my attack on the Temple was an attack on what the Jedi have become, an army fighting for the Dark Side, fallen from the Light we once so closely followed. The Republic is falling. It's only a matter of time."

Ashan frowns, something unsettled twisting inside him. Some of what she's saying... It reminds Ashan what he'd been thinking shortly after the Hardeen incident when everything he once believed about the Order had been destroyed, even if many of his doubts have since been buried again. Some of Barriss' words do make sense, even if he doesn't want to admit it. The Jedi are nothing like they used to be, and certainly not in a good way. Still, he's too angry right now to think clearly about it. "You think that justifies what you did? Those people you killed weren't those responsible for what's happening."

"I know," Barriss replies, "But I had to make a point, and I didn't know what else to do."

He shakes his head. "I just don't understand how you could do something like this."

"Think about what I said," Barriss responds, "The Jedi have long lost their way. I don't want anything to happen to you when everything falls apart."

Ashan leaves it at that, but he still can't quite shake the Mirialan's words from his mind.

***

"You seem distracted," Anika observes, eyeing her padawan. He has been a lot since the whole Temple bombing incident, but it's especially true right now, after he got the chance to briefly talk to Barriss.

"I still can't understand how Barriss could have done something like that," Ashan sighs.

Anika can't either. The Jedi Temple was her home, more than it ever was Anika's. Barriss grew up here. How could she bomb it?! Maybe Anika occasionally has... questions about some of the Jedi's beliefs, but she would never think of doing something like that. She knows not to react to violence at every little thing she doesn't like, thank you very much, Obi-Wan. "Did you ask her?" Anika queries.

Ashan scowls. "I did. She said that the Jedi are losing their way and blamed them for the war. And she said that the Republic is going to fall."

Well, those are... more disturbing predictions that she wants to think about. Especially because it reminds her of some of her doubts too, even if that doesn't remotely condone what Barriss did. Things are not looking good for the Republic as a whole, beyond the war effort. The system is not working, and the more time goes on, the more Anika doubts it. She always has, and it's only worsening.

It isn't something she's taken much time to think about especially with the war, because when she does, it's nothing more than an additional burden – and one she can't do anything about – and it only serves to make her life more depressing. She's more inclined to depression than she used to be, and it's easy to get overwhelmed, so she tries to stay focused on the war where she can actually help.

"There's always going to be Jedi who disappoint us," she tells him, something she'd told him before too, "But as long as there's other Jedi who fight for what's right, it's worth it." She can only hope that that will always be true.

Chapter Text

Something feels different, in a way Anika can hardly explain. She's been noticing it from the moment she started meditating, but the more she focuses on it, the clearer the feeling becomes. It's almost certain she can sense... another presence nearby. Very nearby. More accurately, literally inside of her.

Wait – no, there's two of them.

And – wait, wait – Oh no.

She had better be imagining this. Maybe she's losing her mind, because this cannot be happening. Absolutely not!

Slipping out of her meditation, Anika scrambles to her feet, and makes a beeline for the medbay. She as to be imagining things, she has to be, because this is –

The medbay isn't as full as it often is after the battles, which makes her feel a little better about taking away Kix's attention for something as bizarre as this. She needs him to do it personally, because if this is real, she cannot have the word about it getting everywhere. Not as if it will matter, though. Everyone will find out eventually.

Her mind is continuing to spiral in a half panic as she tries to calmly explain to Kix what she needs him to do, and he does.

Only to report, in the most forced professional tone she thinks he can even manage, given the absolute ludicrousness of the situation, that yes, she is, in fact, pregnant.

This is –

She's going to have a child. She'll be a mother, and Paufre is going to be a father, and –

But their marriage will also be found out, and she can't keep this a secret, especially not out here on the frontlines. It would put her child in danger if she keeps fighting for too much longer, and – Force, this was probably the worst timing in all of history.

Her excitement and nervousness are vying for the upper hand, and she has absolutely no idea how to feel about this right now.

Kix does not ask questions even though he really looks like he wants to – technically it would be a little inappropriate – as she stutters a half-hysterical thanks to him and slips out of the medbay.

For a half-panicked moment, she almost wishes that she hadn't even found out yet, but it wouldn't matter. It's something she's going to have to deal with eventually. She needs to tell Obi-Wan and Ashan. And... Obi-Wan might be a great deal more openly emotional than he used to be, but she's still going to be very disappointed, Anika is certain of it. And she's going to be thrown out of the Order, and...

But no, she shouldn't be worrying about all of that right now. Her and Paufre are going to be parents. It's something she always wanted, even if she never truly thought she would get it. Today is... one of the happiest days of her life. She can't afford to ruin it by worrying about how everyone will react.

Part of her has always wanted to leave the Order, but it's not that simple, and she doesn't want to leave Obi-Wan and Ashan. She can't leave her boys out here on the front lines either, but it doesn't seem like it will matter because even if she did stay in the Order, she can hardly be out on the frontlines and putting her child in danger.

Force, there's so many complications to this, and she doesn't even know where to begin. This is the worst time it could have happened, but no, she can't think like that. The child – children, because she can feel two of them; she's going to have twins! – are a blessing, not a problem. Whatever complications arise, she'll work with it.

Maybe. Probably. She doesn't have any other choice.

She needs to tell Paufre about this, but she doesn't want to do it over a holocall, and she has no idea when she'll be back on Coruscant. Her husband really deserves to know first, but that obviously won't be possible.

Okay, first step, go find Obi-Wan and Ashan and very awkwardly explain the situation to them. It's something she needs to address right now. She can't put it off, even if she really wants to. The sooner the better. She only feels bad about telling them before her husband.

Finding the two of them is easy enough. Obi-Wan is grumbling to herself as she looks over a holomap, and Ashan is pacing the room half listening to her grandmaster. Both look up as Anika enters the room.

Okay, how is she supposed to tell them this? In all honesty, walking in and announcing it sounds like a prank. Except it's really, really not funny.

Ashan raises an eyemarking as he eyes her. What? Does she really look that out of sorts? "Everything okay?"

"I – um – no? I mean, not exactly?" She sounds like an absolute idiot. But she is about to tell her master that she broke the Code, so that's pretty excusable.

"What happened?" Obi -Wan asks.

"I –" How is she supposed to say this? What is she supposed to say? There's no good way to answer that question diplomatically. "I'm pregnant," she blurts finally.

They both stare at her, and stare at her, and –

"What?!" Obi-Wan demands, gaping at her.

She can feel herself start flushing furiously, which only serves to make the situation even more awkward. "You heard me." She squirms.

"What?!" Ashan demands, his expression going from half-hysterical confusion to something close to anger. And she's pretty sure he just flipped into protective little brother mode. She's still getting used to the strange way their relationship changed after all this. "Who –" he begins, sounding most unimpressed. Oh wait, he better not being thinking what Anika is pretty sure he is. Okay, she better correct that misunderstanding very quickly.

She supposes it would make sense that his first thought would be... well, she doesn't know exactly what he's thinking, but obviously that she decided to marry and break the Code wouldn't be his first assumption. "I – um – Padme and me. We sort of married." Now she really sounds like an idiot.

"You're married," Obi-Wan repeats, continuing to stare at her.

"Yes...?" This was absolutely not how she expected her master to find out, and she braces herself for the lecture that she knows is going to be coming. And the disappointment. Obi-Wan might be a little more... understanding as a woman, she's noticed, but that won't change how she'll react about this. Anika is certain of that.

"Wait, why did I never hear about this?!" Ashan demands, still sounding mind blown. "You could've invited me."

"I – we – it was before the war, not... after the switch," she mumbles.

"Before the war?!" Obi-Wan repeats, incredulously, "You were nineteen! You married when you were still my padawan?!"

"... yes?"

"Why am I not even surprised," Obi-Wan says flatly.

"You're..." she trails off, unsure what to even say next. She was expecting something more... drastic, not... this. Whatever this even is.

"Yes, we are going to be talking about this," she replies, giving her a pointed look, "But you're pregnant?" She sounds half hysterical, which Anika thinks is justifiable.

"That is what she said," Ashan offers, "Congratulations, by the way."

"You have terrible timing," her master continues.

Right. Like she doesn't know that.

"And seriously, you're way too young for this."

"I'm twenty-two!"

"That's what I mean."

"Hey, a lot younger than that is normal on Tatooine."

Obi-Wan crosses her arms in the way that Anika has become well-accustomed to meaning she's in very big trouble for something or other, and this tim,e she knows what. Can't say she doesn't deserve it, either. "I don't even need to tell you that what you did is completely against the Code," she says flatly, "I thought there was something between you two, but I didn't realize it was this far. But as I said, we can discuss this... later."

"I don't know what I'm going to do," Anika says, gaze dropping to the floor. Her excitement isn't gone, but she's worried too, now. And she still hates seeing her master's disappointment, even if she's used to it.

On second thought, that's a stupid thing to say. What's going to happen is that she'll be thrown out of the Order and sent back to Coruscant, and she has no idea where to go from there, because she can't go live with her husband. That would create a scandal for him, and she wouldn't do that. So yes, she's completely lost.

"You won't be able to keep this a secret forever," Obi-Wan replies, "But for now, you don't need to worry about it."

Wait –

"You're... not planning to tell the Council?"

She's silent for a moment. "We'll have to deal with it eventually – it's unavoidable now – but we don't need to bring it up right now. And I can see that your attachment to the Senator hasn't interfered with your duties."

Anika blinks. She was... expecting something else, anything else, just not this. And she finds herself feeling frustratingly speechless.

Obi-Wan moves closer, laying a hand on her arm. "You might have made some very bad decisions here, so I shouldn't be saying this, but congratulations. I would never have expected my padawan to one day be a mother."

She twists around almost impulsively, throwing her arms around the other. She's half-expecting a complaint about how this is totally un-Jedi like, but she isn't really surprised when it doesn't come. Obi-Wan has a female has been a lot more... prone to physical contact.

Her master returns the gesture immediately. "Only you could manage something like this, in the middle of the war," she says, amusement clear in her voice.

"You're going to be a grandmaster," Anika says, smiling faintly.

"That's one word for it," Obi-Wan agrees.

"Would you prefer grandmother?" Ashan calls from the side.

"No. Absolutely not. More like aunt," she retorts.

Anika chuckles quietly at the thought of the look on her former master's face if her child – children ... actually – called her 'grandmother'.

"Don't I get a hug too?" Ashan cuts in, pouting.

Aniak rolls her eyes, pulling away and stepping over to him, pulling him into a tight embrace.

"Oh, one more thing you should know," she adds a moment later, "They're twins."

"Twins?" both of them repeat, looking equally shocked.

"Yes, and I don't know what we're going to do. Paufre and I aren't even ready for one."

"As I said, your timing is excellent," Obi-Wan tells her dryly.

"That doesn't help, Master."

"Before it happens, you'll have to go back to Coruscant," she points out.

"There's a lot more involved in taking care of a baby than that."

"We could always call Paufre ahead of time," Ashan offers.

"I don't want to do that," Anika objects, "I'd rather tell him in person." She doesn't want word to get out, and it could be especially dangerous if Separatists picked up on the transmission. And besides, she really wants to tell him the news about this face-to-face.

"Then we'll have a lot of shopping to do the moment we get back to Coruscant," he smirks.

"Yes, I guess so. I don't even know what we need though." Paufre probably does. They can talk to him, once they get back. Hopefully it will be before much longer. Maybe

"I guess we'll have to figure it out," Ashan reminds.

"And I don't know where I'll stay," she adds as an afterthought.

"... Why not?"

"Because I'm not sure I can really stay with him," Anika explains, "It could... not be good." Like by causing a serious scandal if the word got out. "Of course, he was talking about leaving the Senate. He's talked to me about it, but..."

"Leave the Senate? Why?" Ashan wonders, "I don't understand why this is such a big deal."

"First of all, he doesn't know if that's what he wants to do for the rest of his life, even if he's doing it fine," Anika replies. She doesn't want to be the one responsible for making him leave, though. Still, it's their duty – both of theirs – to give their children the best life they can, even if it does mean that they have to leave their past lives behind. She just wishes it didn't mean leaving Ashan and Obi-Wan, too.

"Because," Obi-Wan cuts in, "It is, in fact, quite well known that Jedi don't have romantic ties, and this happening with a Senator would cause a scandal."

Ashan scowls. "I don't get why it's anyone's business."

"It's the way politics work," Obi-Wan tells him flatly.

She wishes there weren't so many problems involving this. It's one of the best things that has ever happened to her, and she doesn't want to spend the entire time worrying about how they're going to handle it.

"We have time to figure out," Obi-Wan promises, "We don't need to spend all of our time right now worrying about it."

"Don't worry, Master. We'll help you with this," Ashan promises.

"Yes, we will," Obi-Wan agrees.

She gives them a small smile. "Thank you."

This is definitely, by far, the craziest thing has ever happened to her – in fact she has absolutely not the foggiest idea how any of this is supposed to work; she's still not exactly used to being a woman! – but she can at least be silently grateful that, for once, it seems her master is willing to be somewhat supportive, and Ashan, of course, will always stand by her.

***

It's been months now, and there's still no end in sight to the Outer Rim Sieges or when they'll be going back to Coruscant. "How are you feeling?" Obi-Wan inquires, stepping into the room, and moving to take a seat next to Anika. To put it simply, she will never understand what her former padawan was thinking getting herself into a mess like this.

She's going to be thrown out of the Order as soon as the Council hears about it, and they're practically out of time by this point. It's far enough along now that she can't really help in battles anymore. Even if she could, she wouldn't risk her children like that.

Children. Obi-Wan can still hardly believe that Anika is going to be a mother. She's going to have twins. It's strange to think about it. And even if she is still not appreciative of Anika's decisions on this regard – more correctly, Anakin and Padme's – Obi-Wan can't deny being eager herself for when the children will be born.

"Fine," Anika replies, "They're moving a lot right now."

She reaches over, resting a hand on her stomach. "They are," she agrees, voice tingled with mild amusement.

The door slides open again, and Ashan steps into the room. "Ashan," Anika calls, standing, "Are you okay? What's the situation down there?"

"We have everything under control," he informs her cheerfully. "What about you?"

"... what would I not have under control?"

"This whole situation, actually," Obi-Wan retorts.

Anika huffs.

Of course, this has to be the exact moment that the peacefulness is promptly shattered. Obi-Wan's comm suddenly beeps. "There's an urgent message from the Council, ma'am," a clone reports.

"I'll be there right away," Obi-Wan replies. It's obviously urgently, and she doesn't waste a second getting up to the bridge, to hear the report.

The Separatists are attacking Coruscant.

This was not how she was expecting the day to go. And, of course, they need to get back there as soon as possible to help. Good thing they just finished up the battle here. "Set course for Coruscant immediately," Obi-Wan orders Cody, then goes in search of Anika and Ashan.

"What's happening?" the Togruta demands as they meet half-way through the hall.

"The Separatists have attacked Coruscant," she explains, "We're going back there immediately."

This also means that the confrontation with the Council about Anika is unavoidable now, but... she won't take the time to worry about it. She can tell that the other two are thinking likewise.

She's thought about it before, what she's going to do if – when – they decide to throw out Anika. The past months since the gender swap, they have... grown closer than they once were, it seems, and especially now, Obi-Wan can't imagine staying in the Order without her at her side. She doesn't know what she's going to do once Anika does leave, but...

She'll figure out when the time comes.

***

When the ships jolt out of hyperspace above Coruscant, a battle is already furiously raging. The Separatist ships have blockaded the planet, and Ashan hates the sight of them here of all places. They're attacking the center of the Republic. If they lose this battle, they lose the entire war. Everything they've ever done will have been for nothing.

Right now, more than anything, he wishes his master would be able to help. She'll direct the battle from the command ship off to the side, but... it's not the same.

Obi-Wan immediately begins giving out orders, instructing the clones to engage the forces. "While they're distracted, we'll board the command ship and find the Chancellor," she finishes.

They watch the battle for a few minutes as the clones engage the Separatist forces, before they prepare to head to their own fighters.

"Uh, we might have a slight problem," Anika interjects, looking decidedly uncomfortable.

"What?" Ashan frowns.

"Um. I think my children decided they want to enter the world. Like. Right now."

Great. Exactly what they needed right now!

"Get to the medbay, then. I don't think you'll be able to get down to the surface right now," Obi-Wan decides, looking almost more panicked than Anika herself. "We'll be back as soon as this is over."

Anika nods. "Stay safe and may the Force be with you."

"And you," Ashan calls over his shoulder before he sprints for the waiting ship.

He has no idea how his master manages to have the worst timing for all these things, but he banishes the thought from his mind as he throws himself into the battle. He can't afford to let himself be distracted by thoughts about how he's going to be an uncle, maybe even by the time this battle is over, because he highly doubts it's going to be that short.

At least one thing that never changed when their genders swapped were his flying abilities, Ashan thinks, as he dives between the vulture droids, shooting them down. It takes time, and they both nearly end up crashing from buzz droids, but they just manage to get through the shield on the hanger of the Invisible Hand before their fighters would have otherwise crashed in space.

"That was close," he mutters, clambering out of his fighter with the buzz droids still munching on it.

"We don't be taking these out of here," Obi-Wan agrees crossly, as she finishes slashing through the waiting battle droids.

Artoo rolls over to a computer port, plugging into it and looking for Dooku. Ashan's been using Artoo in important missions lately when Anika can't, since the droid is the most helpful. He definitely knows why he's his master's favorite.

"I sense Dooku," Obi-Wan comments after a moment, looking around.

"Dooku's here?!" Ashan yelps. "Then... we have the chance to finish this." It won't be easy; he knows that much. The Count is stronger than most of the Jedi who have fought him, and he's defeated Anakin before. Ashan has no delusions that he'd stand a chance against the Count, but Obi-Wan will be there. He can only hope that they'll be able to do it together.

***

Fighting their way through the ship is easier than Obi-Wan was anticipating, though she really misses fighting with Anika actually at her side, instead of staying on the command ship. And hopefully she's alright there, because their main cruiser could easily get damaged, and the only one who's there to help is Kix, and... They just need to get this battle over with. They have to win it. Dooku is here; they may finally have the chance they've been waiting for all this time, to end the war.

Minus the part where they get thrown around in the elevator as Artoo keeps directing it to all the wrong places, the ride is relatively smooth, and the two of them step out into the room where Palpatine is seated, cuffed to the chair. She's mildly surprised the Separatists are even bothering to give him this much respect.

"Chancellor," Obi-Wan greets, bowing as she approaches.

Palpatine frowns a little as he looks between them. "Skywalker isn't with you?"

"She had... other engagements," Obi-Wan answers carefully. Now is hardly the time to get into it, especially considering the fact that it is quite literal. She doesn't want to think about that right now, because she'd really like to be there with her former padawan instead of chasing after Sith and the Chancellor.

"Dooku is here," Palpatine warns, "You're no match for him."

"Sith Lords are our specialty," Obi-Wan assures him, freeing him from his stuncuffs with a flick of her wrist.

"I suggest you turn around," Ashan snips.

Obi-Wan spins around, in time to see Dooku steps out onto a balcony up above them, much too dramatically flipping over the railing and landing on the floor, then stalks towards them.

"Your swords please," Dooku requests as he walks towards them, "We don't want to make a mess of things in front of the Chancellor."

"Didn't you give him this seat to let him watch the mess you created out the best viewport on the ship?" Ashan retaliates, igniting his lightsabers. Good point.

Obi-Wan doesn't waste another moment, and just charges at the Sith.

The fight does not go well. It's nothing like fighting Maul, and at least then, Anika was there to help. Ashan isn't nearly as skilled, and Obi-Wan hates how it seems like Dooku is just toying with them more than anything. It's all she can do to avoid getting injured, and she has no doubts that the fight could easily end the same way it did on Geonosis, just without Yoda there to come and save them. So no, this is not looking good.

The ship itself is shaking violently, though, as they keep fighting. The damage is getting worse. If they don't get off soon, they'll risk not being able to get off at all, especially since it didn't look like anything in the hangar was still flyable.

The Force flares in warning, a split second before the floor beneath them suddenly starts to tilt. She narrows ducks Dooku chopping her head off as all four start sliding across the floor, heading straight for the now gaping open elevator shaft. They're practically in free fall now, so Obi-Wan doesn't know how Ashan manages to move so quickly, but the next thing she knows, the Togruta is reigniting both lightsabers, plunging one into the floor near him to slow his fall, while he impales the other straight through the side of the Count.

The wound is... far too serious for him to survive, and he falls past them into the elevator shaft first, plummeting down out of sight.

Obi-Wan tries to catch onto the Chancellor as all three of them fall in after and go tumbling down.

***

It's... Ashan just killed Dooku. Somehow. He has no idea how he did it. It was a spur of the moment thing, what he did, because he knew Dooku wouldn't be able to defend himself in that moment. It wasn't the most Jedi-like thing to do, so maybe it should bother him, but it doesn't.

Dooku is dead. And that means the war will be over. The Republic won. They won.

He can't believe it.

In the end, it's a good thing that they're able to find a still flyable ship to get off the Invisible Hand before the thing disintegrates entirely, because there's no way either would have been able to fly it without Anika's help.

Obi-Wan flies the shuttle carrying them and the Chancellor down to the surface, landing not far from the Senate to let Palpatine get off, before finally leaving the two of them alone again.

"What now?" Ashan wonders, looking to her. This... Dooku is dead. Grievous escaped, but the war should still be over soon enough. But there's the whole problem with his master's marriage, and he has no delusions that both he and Obi-Wan won't also be in trouble for not reporting to the Council immediately.

"I'll have to explain the situation to the Council," Obi-Wan answers simply, though Ashan can tell she's not looking forwards to this conversation, "You can go check on Anika, and contact Paufre."

Right. Time to tell the Senator that he does, in fact have two children who he never knew about until this very moment. That... actually sounds like way more fun than Obi-Wan's job.

***

This is absolutely the strangest call Paufre has ever gotten in his entire life. He's been staying in his apartment thanks to the battle raging above the planet, and all Senate meetings for the day were canceled, especially after the Chancellor himself was captured by the Separatists. But then, he abruptly gets a call from Ashan, who's telling him that he needs to come over to the Jedi Temple because Anika is going into labor.

Like – what?!

Since when –?!

He's a father?! Since when is Anika pregnant?! And he never heard a word about any of this?! They've been gone this whole time, but... And of course, it would make since that Anika wouldn't want to talk to him about it over comms, but he's so mind-blown right now he doesn't know how to feel.

But past the complete and utter confusion filling him, the first thing that hits him is excitement. He's going to have a child. He never expected such a thing to happen, even if he's wanted a family for years. It was something he knew would never happen so long as Anika was still a Jedi, but apparently, it is happening –

No, he doesn't know if this is a good thing, for as much as he's excited. The word is going to get out before long that he's the father, and it's going to wreak havoc in the Senate, and... Anika is going to be thrown out of the Order. This was the worst timing there could ever be.

The thoughts still whirling in his mind, he races to the Temple as fast as he can, without bothering to tell anyone exactly where he's going. They'll find out, but he'd rather deal with the instant fallout himself.

Ashan is waiting right outside for him, immediately ushering him into the Temple and accompanying him to the healer's wing where Anika is. Paufre can only imagine what the rest of the Jedi are thinking as they see him coming there, but he pointedly ignores any glances thrown his way. The healer, thankfully, has the decency not to make any comments about the matter as she ushers the two of them into the room.

It drags out for... not as long as Paufre was expecting, actually, before the first cry of a baby fills the room. He moves forwards first, taking the child from the healer. A boy. He has the tiniest amount of blonde hair and bright blue eyes. And... Paufre has to wonder if this is how Anakin looked like right after he was born. Or close enough, anyway.

He passes the baby to Anika to hold before the second child is born.

(They're having twins?! And he didn't even know about one! They aren't prepared for any of this! This is not okay!)

He takes the second one in his arms, a girl this time. She... reminds him of what he used to be like, with her dark hair and eyes.

"I was not expecting this," Paufre admits, as he passes the second child to his wife and Obi-Wan takes the first.

"I know," Anika says, giving him a weak smile.

He slips out a datapad, sending a message to Sabe about getting supplies for taking care of two babies immediately, no questions asked.

***

This is definitely the happiest day in Anika's life, and she won't let anything ruin it. The wave of adoration that rushes through her as she looks down at Luke and Leia – she'd had name ideas and Paufre agreed – is nothing like she's ever felt towards anyone before, and she already knows she'd do anything for them. She can hardly believe that she... had a part in making them.

Obi-Wan and Ashan stay with her, even when she's let out of the medbay. She's silently thankful that Obi-Wan doesn't bring up anything about the Council until the next morning.

"They want to talk to you," Obi-Wan tells her, once both the twins are fast asleep in bed with Sabe to watch over them, since Paufre had to leave for the Senate, despite everything. The war apparently still won't be over until they find Grievous.

"They're throwing me out, aren't they?" Anika asks.

Obi-Wan nods.

She doesn't know how to feel about it. Before she would've been hurt, upset, but... Okay, she still is too, now, but right now, she's so excited over her children that it doesn't really matter. She couldn't take care of them the way she wants to if she stayed a Jedi. Perhaps it really is time for her to leave, whether by her own choice or not. She just wishes she didn't have to leave half of her family behind to do so.

"Don't worry, Master," Ashan says, reaching over and taking her hand.

"I'm not," she admits, "I... Maybe this is for the best."

"Why would it be 'for the best'?" Obi-Wan asks.

Her gaze drops to the floor. "I've always... what I've always wanted is... this. A family," sheadmits, quietly, "I... I can't have that as a Jedi."

"The Jedi were your family," Obi-Wan argues.

"Not – not like this," she objects, "But... I don't want to leave you either." Either of them. It's what's been bothering her the most.

"You won't be," Ashan promises, "If they're throwing you out, I'm coming with you."

Her head snaps to the Togruta, eyes widening. "What?"

"I'm leaving. I want to be with you," Ashan repeats.

"You – Ashan, you don't have to do this for me."

"I know, but I want to."

"Are you sure?" All this time, she'd tried not to think about it. It was easier to not speak of. It made the fact that her time with them as a family was running short real.

"I've been thinking about it ever since I first heard," Ashan replies, "Yes, this is what I want to do."

"... okay," Anika breathes, hardly even sure how to feel or what to feel about the sudden turn of events. Ashan is going to come with her. She won't be abandoning her padawan after all.

"I'm coming with you, too."

Anika freezes. "What?" she squeaks, looking at her former master with wide eyes.

"I'm coming too," she repeats, "The Council is... less than happy already that I didn't them about this a long time ago, anyway."

That, she expected, but this – Obi-Wan leaving the Order for her? Why – "Why?" she blurts, "Why would you?"

Right on cue, one of the twins screams in the next room. "I'll take care of it," Ashan assures, slipping out, leaving them alone.

Obi-Wan is silent for a few moments, before responding. "Because," she answers, at last, "When you first considered leaving the Order all those years ago, I would have gone with you, to keep training you. You might not be my padawan anymore, but I want to stay with you."

Anika just stares and then abruptly throws her arms around her master. In truth, it's the only reaction her mind can comprehend right now.

Obi-Wan returns the gesture immediately, and the affection she can feel from her in that moment is more than words ever could say.

***

It's not until the next evening that Anika is actually able to find time to go see Palpatine. He asked earlier, but she was busy with her children, and dealing with the whole 'being thrown out of the Order' issue, since that also involved moving out of the Temple, especially when Obi-Wan and Ashan were moving out along with her.

They're going to be staying at Paufre's for now. He is, in fact, planning to leave the Senate so they can go to Naboo to raise Luke and Leia.

"You wanted to see me, Chancellor?" Anika queries as she slips into the area where Palpatine is sitting, watching an opera.

"Yes, Anika," Palpatine greets, "It's good to see you back after so long." He looks to his aides. "Leave us." They stand, heading out, leaving the two of them alone.

Anika moves closer, settling onto the seat next to him. She's missed talking to him. It's been so long since their last meeting. "It's good to be back, Your Excellency," she replies.

"I heard about your children," Palpatine begins, "I must say I was not expecting that. Congratulations."

He heard about that already. How far has the news spread?

"It was unexpected for me too," she admits, "But... I don't regret it."

"I heard the Council had you thrown out of the Order, because of your marriage," he continues.

"Yes, they did." But at this point, she doesn't know how much she cares. The war will be over, so she wouldn't be staying around the 501st anyway. And her entire family will still be with her.

She has no idea what she's actually going to do with herself now, beyond taking care of her children, but she'll figure it out as they go. It's not the most pressing matter at hand right now, anyway. She's long since made peace with the fact that she wouldn't be able to stay in the Order anymore, even if it... does still hurt.

"After you dedicated your life to them and did so much for them, I find it highly disappointing that they would take such action," murmurs Palpatine sympathetically.

"I knew it was a possibility, when I first married," she replies, "I didn't expect it to happen so soon, but I suppose it was inevitable."

"I would have expected them to at least consider your accomplishments for them before they took such drastic action."

Normally she might agree with him, but right now she doesn't entirely care. "I only want to be with my family," she replies, honestly. "I want to help the Republic, but I need to take care of my children right now."

"If you are interested, I still have use of your services."

"Thank you, Chancellor," Anika replies, slightly touched, "But I've been thinking about going to Naboo. I would rather focus on raising my children right now."

"I see," he nods, "Well, my offer still stands if you ever change your mind."

***

Paufre is planning to wait until he's certain the war is over to leave, so Ashan finds himself spending more time at the Senate to be around him again – well, all the time that he isn't spending with Anika and the twins. He's roaming the halls, just preparing to leave a couple days later, when four Jedi masters walk into view, heading for the Chancellor's office. Windu, Fisto, Tiin, and Kolar.

There's nothing unusual about it, but something about the way they're acting immediately sets him on edge. They look as though they're preparing for a fight, and something about the atmosphere just feels tense and dark.

He hasn't been paying much attention to it thanks to everything going on with his master, but it's unmistakable right now. His gaze follows them down the hall, watching as they disappear inside, and he lingers for a few moments just in case... He doesn't know, actually.

But the last thing he was ever expecting was to suddenly hear – and feel the motion thanks to his montrals – the sound of clashing lightsabers coming from the next room.

What?! What is going on in there?

It's hardly his place to do this, but something is terribly wrong here, so he sprints for the door, opening it to see Palpatine with a red lightsaber running it through one of the Jedi Masters, then swinging to cut down a second. Fisto and Windu immediately bring up their blades to block his next attack, and –

What?! Palpatine is a Sith?!

Is he –

Sidious, Ashan realizes grimly. He never knew much about him, since that wasn't really a thing padawans needed to be told about, but he knows enough. Palpatine – the very Chancellor of the Republic – is the Sith behind everything. And he already killed two Jedi Masters in a matter of moments.

No, this cannot be happening. He has no idea what he should do, if he should do anything, even.

Backing out of the room far faster than he came in, Ashan frantically dials Anika's comm frequency.

Obi-Wan answers for her. "What is it?" she asks.

"Palpatine – he's a Sith," Ashan blurts in a rush, "He's –"

"What are you talking about?" Anika demands, appearing on the hologram, holding Leia in her arms.

"He's attacking the Jedi Masters. He already killed two of them!" He thinks sounding a little hysterical is pretty justifiable right now.

Obi-Wan and Anika exchange glances. "We'll be there shortly," Obi-Wan replies, before they break the connection.

***

"I don't understand how this is possible!" Anika hurries after her former master through the halls of the Senate, for the Chancellor's office. She's confused and overwhelmed, because this doesn't make any sense!

"It makes sense," Obi-Wan objects, "The Council was noticing that the Dark Side surrounding him. And of course, the Sith Master would try to get in a position of power where he could control both sides of the war."

That doesn't really help, though. Logically, maybe it makes sense, but Anika doesn't want to believe it. She doesn't want to accept that the mentor figure for her entire life – the one person who's always supported her – could have betrayed everyone. (And that he could just have been using her this whole time. Was any of their relationship real to him, or was he using her the same way the Jedi so often did?)

She doesn't know how to deal with this, and she doesn't have nearly enough to begin sorting through her shock. By the time they reach the office. Ashan is standing nervously outside.

"Stay out here," Anika instructs, moving for the door.

"What? No, if you're going in there, so am I," Ashan objects.

"You're still a padawan." She doesn't want him anywhere near a Sith.

"I defeated Dooku!"

"That was by mere chance," Obi-Wan points out, opening the door and stepping into the room. Windu and Palpatine are fighting on the far side near the window, their blades clashing in a furious blur of purple and red.

"You are under arrest, my lord," Windu scoffs as they approach.

Obi-Wan pulls out her own lightsaber, charging to join the fight.

For a moment, Anika hesitates. Palpatine is guilty of this, yes, but... he's still the Chancellor. They don't have the authority to do anything more than arrest him and have him tried by the Senate. But maybe that is what Windu is trying to do, but obviously, Palpatine has no intention of surrendering. Still, if Obi-Wan is fighting someone who already killed three Jedi Masters, Anika won't let her do it alone.

She activates her own blade, running to join the fight. It hurts, though, to be doing this, to be fighting someone she once respected so much. Still does respect, because she hasn't had time to begin processing who he really is.

"The Jedi are committing treason, Anika," Palpatine warns, "Don't join them!"

"You're the Sith. You're the one guilty of treason," Obi-Wan retaliates.

Sidious swings his blade furiously between them, and with all three of them fighting, it doesn't give him another opportunity to keep talking. For that, Anika is grateful, because having to fight him at all is hard enough already.

Windu's blade slashes to the side, striking the window and shattering the glass everywhere. Palpatine throws Obi-Wan across the room, kicking Anika back next, and while she's trying to force herself upright, she sees him lift Obi-Wan in a Force-choke, before throwing her at Windu. He barely dodges out of the way and avoids impaling her with his lightsaber, before the Sith lunges for him again. Forcing past the ache in her back, she drags herself back to her feet, right as Sidious' slashes through Windu's wrist, his lightsaber falling from his hands. Sidious lashes out, throwing him out the window on a blast of lightning.

Anika's about to ignite her lightsaber, when another blast of lightning bursts from his fingers, slamming into her, throwing her across the room again. It lets up quickly enough, but it leaves her gasping for breath, struggling to shake off the aftershocks.

"The time has come. Execute Order 66," she hears Palpatine saying.

The Force tenses, as though a ripple is running through it. It's something of a shockwave. Anika drags herself back to her feet, igniting her lightsaber, stalking towards Palpatine.

The feeling of foreboding and wrongness in the Force is only intensifying, and within seconds, it's crying out with pain and death. Force, what did Palpatine just do?

He raises his hands, a blast of lightning leaping from them, striking her lightsaber.

"The Jedi are guilty of treason, and they will fall," Palpatine declares, "Don't join them in this, Anika."

"What did you do?" she demands instead, voice shaking, from the strain of the pure suffering she feels in the Force, and from trying to deflect the lightning.

"They will pay for their treachery."

A blast of lighting catches Obi-Wan, throwing her across the room before she can get her lightsaber.

Anika holds her own blade in front of her, stubbornly deflecting the lightning away as she takes a few steps towards the Sith. Memories assault her mind, of all the times Dooku used this on her, and she won't deny she's scared. No, more like terrified, because if she loses this battle, she has no idea what Palpatine – Sidious – will do to her and Obi-Wan. But she doesn't know what else to do other than keep holding him off.

The lightning only seems to be increasing in intensity, and it's deflecting back, hitting him,but he still isn't stopping. (Well, if he really wants to keep shocking himself, that's not really her problem.) Right now, the person in front of her – with glowing yellow eyes – looks nothing like Palpatine, and maybe that makes it a little easier.

The lightning seems to be becoming steadily brighter and more intense, and it's becoming harder and harder to hold her lightsaber at bay. And if she slips up, the blade will probably get blasted through her, and –

It lets up all at once, the Sith Lord falling to the ground, and she can feel him rapidly slipping into unconsciousness.

What? Cautiously, warily, Anika approaches him, and when she realizes that no, this isn't just a prank, she slowly kneels next to him, to check his condition.

Wait – did he just... have a heart attack from his own lightning? She could laugh if she wasn't a mixture of mind-blown and sorrowful. He might have been a Sith, but he was her friend.

"What happened to him?" Obi-Wan asks, appearing behind her.

"He's dead," Anika replies, "I think he... had a heart attack."

It's all far too much to process right now, but... her first thought is that it's going to make things way easier. No one has to know what really happened. after all. He literally gave himself a heart attack with his lightning, even if it wouldn't have happened if Anika hadn't been deflecting it back at him. To be fair, it wouldn't have happened at all if he hadn't been trying to kill them.

***

In the end, most of the Jedi at the Temple survive. Many of those spread across the galaxy are killed, but some survive. With how Palpatine died and was never able to officially declare the Jedi traitors, they manage to dodge the responsibility... with difficulty, of course, but what matters is that it's successful.

Anika, Obi-Wan, Ashan, and Paufre are staying on Naboo now, though, at Paufre's new home only a short distance away from his parent's house.

And this... it's one of the best times of her life, maybe the best, Anika can't help but think. The only thing that's missing is that Shmi will never get to see the twins. She'll never get to know them, like she really should have. Obi-Wan might be technically like her second mother now or something, but that doesn't replace her real one, even if she's closer with Obi-Wan.

She supposes no matter how peaceful things are, there will always be regrets, but that's just the way life is.

And then there's Palpatine. He... okay, she probably shouldn't miss him, but she can't help it. Sometimes she just wants to talk to him, so much, even if it's less often now than in the past because usually she went to him when she was upset about something, and she isn't really at all right now.

It's her fault that he's dead, and yes, it was necessary – especially after what he did to the galaxy and the Jedi, he had to be stopped – but she can't help feeling guilty about it anyway. Maybe they could've tried to arrest him – they technically tried, but it didn't work. She doesn't really know, and in the end, it won't matter because it won't change what already happened.

She's just glad to be here with all the remaining members of her family, even if it's the strangest family to exist. Imagine telling Luke and Leia when they're older than yes, Anika would have otherwise been their father, and Paufre their mother, if not for what happened. She's pretty sure no one will believe them.

But it's fine. It's still strange but she's come to accept it, like so many other things. She doesn't know how it would have turned out if not for the strange gender swap... but it did affect all four of them a lot, so the end result by this point would probably have been completely different. And... something tells her she might not like the world as much.

But regardless, she has her family at her side now, and that's what matters.

Chapter Text

It was supposed to have been nothing more than a simple supply run, but the Imperials on their tails just won't stop chasing them. Ezra Bridger sprints in between the trees, splashing through the water around him, Sabine Wren close behind. Sabine twists around, firing several shots over her shoulder at the pursuing stormtroopers, before they take off again.

"So much for this being easy," Ezra puffs, reaching for his lightsaber. Igniting it, he deflects away the blaster shots as they continue to retreat further and further into the swamp.

At least they're sort of getting closer to the Phantom though, because they've been trying to lead on a roundabout route to get there.

A strange ripple seems to run through the Force as they continue to retreat through the swamp, though, getting to an area that has even deeper water. Something feels... wrong. He can't place what, but the Force is distinctly warning him not to go there.

"Sabine, wait!" Ezra calls, "We can't go that way."

"Don't have much choice," she yells back, dodging a shot that nearly takes off her head, and sprinting forwards, jumping into the swamp behind them, and starts to swim across. Right now, Ezra really wishes they brought her jetpack.

Well, if she's going that way, he'll have to, also. And maybe they can lose the stormtroopers in the water, since they haven't made it far enough to see where they went, yet. Ezra runs after, jumping in behind her.

The moment he's actually in the water, he suddenly can't shake the feeling that this was a terrible mistake. He doesn't have another chance to call a warning to Sabine, before the Force curls around him, tensing in a way that's almost physical. He can't even explain it, but it feels cold and dark and the sensation scares him, because it feels like the Dark Side, and – The next thing he knows, there's a blinding flash of light, and he abruptly blacks out.

***

Sabine has absolutely no idea what just happened, but the next thing she knows, she's opening her eyes, lying on her back on the beach, a distance away from where they'd run into the stormtroopers. What just happened?

The next thing she instantly notices is that she feels weird. Her armor is way too tight and downright uncomfortable, as though it's suddenly much too small for her. And she just feels different in a way she can't place.

Turning her head to the side, she sees Ezra slowly starts to push himself up next to her, except... Wait –

Why does he have long hair?! And why does he look like a girl?!

She blinks, and then again, but his new, very strange looks don't change. "Ezra?" she asks, cautiously, but – what?! The voice that comes out of her throat is distinctly not her own. It sounds like a boy.

"... Sabine?" Ezra replies, except his voice sounds like a girl, a little more high-pitched than he actually talks.

And suddenly, Sabine has a very, very bad feeling on why she suddenly looks so different. Slowly, she looks down at herself and...

"What happened to you?!" Ezra demands, half-frantically, "Why do I sound so strange?"

"I don't know!" Sabine yelps, wincing at the sound of her – his?! – own voice.

Maybe she's completely lost her (?) mind, because there's absolutely no way she just became a boy. Or that Ezra just because a girl.

"You... look like a girl." Sabine cringes again. She needs to stop talking. This is too weird. Maybe she drowned in the swamp and this is some crazy afterlife.

That certainly never what she was taught to believe on Mandalore about what would happen after death, but still.

"You look like a boy!" Ezra yelps.

The rush of adrenaline from trying to escape the stormtroopers has yet to wear off, and it makes her immediately think about the situation a little more objectively. Or maybe it's that... something about her brain doesn't seem to be working quite the same. "We need to get back to the Phantom," Sabine declares, cringing again mentally at the very wrong voice coming from her mouth as she unsteadily climbs to his feet. The world looks strange, like she's seeing it from a higher view than usual, and instead of being right around her height, Ezra is... shorter. Back like he – she?! – used to be.

"We just got gender swapped or whatever,and that's your first worry!" Ezra yelps.

The words sound so ludicrous out loud that it makes her stop, and maybe there's a part of her that's hoping she's totally lost her mind and it's just a nightmare she's going to wake up from. "Did this have something to do with why you said we shouldn't go through that swamp?"

"Yes!" Ezra exclaims, "I sensed something off, but – Ugh, we sound terrible!"

"I know," Sabine groans, "But wait, you think this has something to do with the Force?" She might have lived around two Jedi for the past many years, but many things about it still make no sense to him whatsoever, least of all this.

"I think so?!" Ezra replies, "I mean it did something to us! Maybe if we go back, it will undo it?!"

"I don't think we'll be able to do that right now," Sabine objects, frowning. "The stormtroopers are still over there and... We better get out of here while we still can."

Ezra frowns, reaching down to touch his – her lightsaber as though trying to make sure everything about her is still intact. Her clothes really don't fit anymore, but neither do Sabine's. "Yeah," she agrees, turning and taking off running. Sabine follows, every move feeling decidedly strange and awkward, because this isn't the body he's used to, and he's suddenly conscious of every second of it.

The stormtroopers are probably still trying to figure out where they disappeared to literally, so they don't run into any further trouble as they make their way back to the waiting Phantom.

***

"This is embarrassing," Ezra says flatly, slumping down on one of the seats in the back part of the Phantom, "What are we supposed to tell everyone now?"

She hates what her voice sounds like, and she's never been more confused in her life. How can stumbling into a swamp change her into a girl?! Or change Sabine into a boy?

"I have no idea," Sabine replies, "But I need to take this off." He reaches up, pulling off his helmet – revealing his now much shorter though still white and lavender hair – before he pulls off the rest of his armor, so he only has on the clothes he was originally wearing underneath, which are also a little too small.

Ezra continues to eye the now very strange looking, formerly older sister figure, now older brother in front of her, and finally can't help but crack up.

"What?!" Sabine demands.

"We look stupid!" she exclaims, "This whole situation is stupid! What even happened?" It's actually the craziest thing she's experienced in her entire life, and she has no idea how to begin handling it.

"Do you think Kanan could do something?"

"I don't know," Ezra replies, "Maybe there's something about this on one of his holocrons. If there's literally swamps that can do things like this, it can't be completely unheard of, can it?"

"I certainly haven't heard of it before!"

"Me neither, but it's a big galaxy." At least she'll have to convince herself of this because right now, she isn't convinced she hasn't completely lost her mind. She's a little shorter and smaller than she used to be, even if it's not significant, but there's other changes that are what's really weirding her out. "No one is going to believe us."

Sabine huffs. "It's not like this was our choice. Maybe we can comm ahead so they don't think we're trying to prank them."

"They'll think we're trying to prank them either way, but sure. And you sound like Tristan."

"Huh?"

"Your voice. You sound like your brother."

"Well, I hope I'm not going to have to tell my brother that he has a new brother who now sounds just like him."

"Let's hope so," Ezra mutters.

She moves to the front of the ship once they come out of hyperspace above the planet where the Rebel base is located. Pushing a button on the controls, she calls the base, turning on audio only. "This is Spectre-5 to Ghost," she calls, trying to deepen her voice as much as possible.

"You sound like an idiot. They will never buy that," Sabine hisses.

"Thanks for the confidence boost."

"Spectre-5? What's going on?" Hera's voice crackles over the comm, "You sound... off."

"We're in a bit of a situation," she explains, trying and failing to sound like male-Ezra. She tries pinching her throat to make her voice come out weird, but that only makes it sound like she's gasping for breath or something.

Sabine snorts from behind her.

"Why are you only on audio?" Great, now Hera sounds suspicious.

Sabine reaches over, flipping the call onto visual, and Hera's eyes widen in surprise and confusion as she looks between the two of them. "What's going on here?"

"That's exactly what we would like to know," Sabine grumbles, "We stumbled into a swamp, and it did something to us, and now we –"

"Changed genders?" offers Ezra.

Hera looks very slowly between them, as though she isn't sure if she should believe them or not, but they look too similar for her not to, really. Hopefully. Because Ezra would have no idea how to deal with it if they no one believed that they were really who they say they are. It's bad enough that he's randomly stuck as a girl.

"What about the supplies?" she asks warily.

"We got most of them," Sabine replies.

"Alright, just land the ship and I'll be over there with Kanan." She breaks the connection at that, and they direct the shuttle for the landing point.

And suddenly, the last thing Ezra feels like doing is stepping off that ship. This is stupid enough as is. She definitely doesn't want anyone to see her like this, or move around at all, really. Ugh.

Sure enough, Hera and Kanan are both waiting for them when they step off the ramp, with Chopper close behind. The droid rolls forwards, beeping and spinning his arms in a circle dramatically.

"A new model?" Ezra echoes, "I guess that's one word for it."

The droid beeps again.

"Glad you like it better. Because I think you're the only one," Sabine grumbles before Ezra turns her attention Kanan and Hera who are eyeing both of them incredulously.

"So, you're saying what happened?" Kanan asks slowly.

"We were trying to escape some stormtroopers, and we went into a swamp," Ezra explains, "It felt weird in the Force, but we didn't have time to worry about it. Then, the next thing we knew, we were waking up back on the shore like this."

"Does this make any sense to you?" Hera asks skeptically, looking to Kanan.

"I've never heard of anything like that. It shouldn't even be possible with the Force," Kanan replies.

"I sensed the Dark Side, if that explains anything," Ezra offers.

"Do you think there's anything you can do?" Sabine asks hopefully.

"If this is something with the Dark Side – or with the Force – I don't know anything about how to undo it," Kanan replies, and Ezra lets out a disappointed sigh. It's what she feared, but she was still hoping...

"You better not be saying we're going to be stuck like this forever!" Sabine protests.

"Maybe it will wear off in time," Hera proposes, "In any case, you might want to go to the medics to get checked up and make sure you're alright."

"Obviously, we are not alright," Ezra huffs.

"If we were still at Chopper Base, I would go to Bendu, but I'm not sure he would want to talk to me again after what happened," Kanan says dryly.

"Right," Ezra mutters. So much for that.

"Come on," Hera advises, "Why don't you go get checked up, and Kanan and I will see if there's anything that can be done."

Something tells Ezra that the answer is going to be a negative.

***

"There is nothing we can do," the medic declares.

Sabine sinks back in his seat, frustration nagging at him. "We can't be stuck this like this forever!" he protests. He still hates the sound of his voice. It really does sound like Tristan talking from his mouth, and it's ridiculous.

"Hey, maybe it's not so bad," Ezra chirps, "At least this way, no one will be able to recognize us."

"I don't see how you're being cheerful about this," he says, flatly. Although Ezra does have a point, but that doesn't mean he appreciates this.

"I'm just saying."

"It will give us that advantage, but I don't want to spend the rest of my life as a man, and I doubt you do, either." This is just way too weird, and he doesn't know how to move around in his new body, like at all. It's different,and it's beyond jarring.

"Hey, at least we're in this together," Ezra offers, feigning cheer.

"Most of my clothes should still fit," Sabine muses, trying to think through this logically. It's a little easier than he was expecting, honestly. "But my armor is too small. I'll have to get it reformed, and that can only be done on Mandalore."

"Looks like Tristan will be meeting his brother after all."

"You're not helping."

Ezra grins. "Don't worry, I can come with you, if it helps. Although I think it will be as strange for your family as it is for you."

Maybe. He personally doubts it. He'd rather no one else know about it, but Ezra's cheerfulness is rubbing off on him, even if he has no idea how she could be this chipper about it. Maybe she's just wisely trying to be optimistic. Getting angry is not going to help, he knows. It won't change anything.

"Most of my clothes should still fit too, but... not everything."

"I'll help you with that," Sabine offers. This is awkward. Beyond awkward. How are they going to manage this?

They're just about to leave when the door opens and Zeb walks in. Sabine barely resists the urge to groan. They do not need to deal with him right now.

"What's this I'm hearing about –" Zeb begins, and then stops, staring at them, "So, they really weren't kidding about what happened to you two."

"You really think we would joke about something like this?" Sabine grumbles.

"You look ridiculous," the Lasat replies, by way of answer.

"Yes, we figured that out," Ezra retorts.

"Are you still going by the same names? Aren't human names gender specific?"

"'Ezra' actually can be a female name, and I'd prefer to keep it," she replies flatly.

"Doesn't sound like one to me."

"You're a different species," she answers lightly, crossing her arms.

"I'm sticking with mine, too," Sabine declares, "Even if... it really isn't a male name." He really doesn't care. He has enough to get used to already without adding a new name to all that.

***

As it turns out, Sabine thinks having to get new clothes was the easy part. It's the other changes that aren't quite so easy to deal with.

Because he needed his armor to do any real missions for the rebellion, he left back for Mandalore with the Phantom on his own almost immediately. The others needed Ezra and he frankly thinks taking her with him is going to be even more embarrassing.

But while he's on the way, he tries to do what he always does in his past time – starts painting.

For some reason, it doesn't seem to be working quite the same that it always used to. The attention to very specific details that he used to have doesn't seem to be quite the same, and it... makes it a bit more difficult than it used to be.

He keeps on trying, though, because if nothing else, paining helps him let out his frustration at the turn of events.

Still, it's upsetting because he didn't realize a change like this would affect his ability to appreciate art. He still cares about it as much as he used to, but it's not quite the same. Or maybe he'll have to modify something about how he does that too. There's so many changes, and it's exhausting. He really wishes he could change back to how he used to be, but it doesn't seem as though that's going to be happening.

Though he really isn't looking forward to seeing his family.

Mandalore is still in a lot of chaos with the Empire, but he knows where to go to find Clan Wren.

"I don't even know what to say," Tristan says flatly as Sabine finishes explaining the situation. And why does he sound like he's about to laugh?!

"How about say nothing, and we can just get this over with?" Sabine advises.

"You know, if not for your hair, I wouldn't even believe you were you."

"Yes, I can imagine," he grumbles, "I don't know how I'm going to explain this to our parents."

"I can tell them, if you want, though I don't think they're even going to believe me," Tristan declares.

"Thanks," Sabine replies, unable to deny the gratitude he feels at that. No matter how annoying both of his little brothers can be – well, technically Tristan is his only little brother now – they can be the best sometimes. Because he doesn't think he could stand explaining this to anyone else.

"I'll go take care of this armor," Sabine decides. He's going to have to repaint all of it, which he isn't very happy about, but then again, there's nothing about this situation that he's happy about.

It could be worse, he supposes. If this happened earlier, he wouldn't even have been able to come back to Mandalore to get it reforged, and no one would have believed that he was even formerly Sabine in the first place.

Maybe he can try to take a page out of Ezra's book in that regard, though he still doesn't see how she can be so cheerful about all of it.

***

"Are you sure there's nothing we can do?" Ezra asks, for maybe the millionth time. She might find the whole situation more amusing than she really ought to, but that doesn't mean it isn't plainly annoying sometimes. Honestly. And it would help if Zeb would stop teasing her about for literally one second!

"I told you, I've never heard of anything remotely like this," Kanan repeats, "The Jedi had no knowledge of such things, that I knew about. It was likely a Sith trap of some kind."

"How could they even do that with the Force?" Ezra asks, "Why would they want to?"

"I don't know," Kanan replies, "It was likely something there from a long time ago, though."

"I wish the Temple on Lothal was still there," she grumbles, "Maybe we'd be able to find answers there."

"Maybe," Kanan agrees, "But we can't guarantee it. There must be some reason this happened."

"You wouldn't believe how frustrating it is to be this... tiny again," Ezra remarks, deciding not to argue his point.

"You never stopped being tiny," Kanan says, mildly amused.

"Hey!"

She doesn't know why it hits her just than that Kanan doesn't even know what she looks like anymore, and he never will. That makes her mood drop the littlest bit again, though she tries to shove it aside. They've all accepted it, that Kanan will never see them again, and he can still practically see just as well with the Force, but it's not the same for any of them.

"It's the truth. And we should get on with that lightsaber practice you wanted, while we still have time."

"Right," she mutters, withdrawing her blade and igniting it, standing across from Kanan. He comes at her without warning, and she hastily spins up her blade to block him.

She used to be this size – her height has really only changed by a little over an inch – so it's not that big of a deal, but at the same time, her body isn't quite the same, in general, and it makes moving to fight like this clumsy to a point.

It could be worse, though, she supposes, so she throws all of her concentration into the fight.

They've been at it for quite a while by the time the Phantom flies into view, landing not far from where they're sparring.

"Looks like Sabine's back!" Ezra running for the ship.

It's still jarring to see it when he steps off the shuttle, now in completely different armor. "You... haven't painted it yet," Ezra observes.

"I haven't figured out what colors I want to paint it," he replies.

"Do it to match your hair," she chirps.

"Where's the fun in that?"

"Oh, I don't know, but I'd be happy to help."

"Yeah, I'm sure you would be," he replies, "Though I suppose you're right about one thing: the Empire won't recognize us like this."

"Except that it will be suspicious when you're with the rest of us," Kanan points out, approaching.

"And speaking of missions, I imagine you need to get used to fighting again."

Sabine grimaces. "Yes. I haven't tried that yet."

"We aren't gonna get to sit around much longer, so you'd better get started," Ezra advises. The last thing they needed right now was another inconvenience, but there's no use grumbling about it. It's not like it's going to change anything.

"Why don't you get started now?" Kanan proposes.

Sabine agrees, still not sounding the least bit happy. And, if anything, it's a great deal harder for him than it is for Ezra in what he's trying to do. His size changed a great deal more, and he fights a lot more physically. Which mean he has to relearn how to move while fighting, and... actually, almost everything from the basics.

For Ezra, it was mostly lightsaber forms that she always used to use, and those didn't really change. So no, Ezra does not envy Sabine at all.

"You know, it's weird that you're... technically my brother now," she remarks, later that evening as they sit in the Ghost again together.

"Brother?" he repeats, mildly amused, "Is that what we are?"

Ezra leans back, putting her hands behind her head as she does so. "Isn't it?"

"Yes, I suppose it is... little sister."

Chapter Text

The last thing Ezra was expecting when they finally get back to base after being gone a mission so long was for there to be a waiting transmission from Ryder, back on Lothal. She's been having visions of him and Old Jho, and she's really worried about it, even if Kanan and Hera are telling her that there's nothing they can do right now.

Lothal is her home planet. And those people used to know her. They were her friends. She can't sit back and do nothing. It doesn't seem like the Alliance has plans to do anything, so maybe... maybe she'll have to take matters into her own hands.

"I've had a long time to think about this," Ezra declares firmly when Mothma explains that they need someone to go back to Lothal to get the intel, despite the risk that they may not be able to get off the planet again because of the Imperial blockade, "We'll get that intel, but I'm going home to help my people, which means I'm there to stay. It's where I belong."

And this time, she can actually feel the others' approval about her decision.

***

The only way to get past the blockage will be through someone's help, and Ezra knows just who to turn to. She has to get in contact with Vizago somehow – great, this is going to be so awkward, explaining the new situation – and the best place to start is with Hondo, because... people like them tend to know each other.

"Uhh... hey Hondo! It's me, Ezra," she finally just goes for announcing cheerfully. Before he starts to question who in the world she even is and why she's calling him.

Hondo gives her a dubious look. "You can't fool Hondo," he retaliates, "You might be a Bridger, but you're not the one I know."

"You see, we had a tiny accident," she explains, "I stumbled into a swamp strong in the Force and kind of came out like this."

"This 'Force' again, my friend. You should have joined my crew when I offered it to you before."

Ezra rolls her eyes, though she is mildly surprised he believes her. Or maybe he only half does and is taking it all in stride. "I'm calling because I could use your assistance in something."

"Whatever you need, my boy –" He pauses, letting out an exaggerated sigh. "I almost forgot, I can't you that anymore. But we still make an excellent team. What do you need?"

"Information. About how to get into contact with Vizago."

***

"I can't believe what they've done to Lothal," Ezra repeats again in a low voice as she and Sabine make their way through the streets of the planet. It looks nothing like it used to. From space, so much of the planet was literally burning and down here, everything just seems dark and smoky. Imperials are everywhere, too.

The sight of it fills her anger as much as it does a sinking sense of hopelessness. There's so many Imperials here now, it will be almost impossible to shake their grip off the planet. It's so much worse than when she was last here. And so much of the planet has been destroyed. Even if they do throw the Empire out soon, because of all the destruction, it will take a long time to rebuild.

"That's why we're here, to stop them," Sabine says determinedly.

The words are a little encouraging. She tries to force back the despair nagging at her, tries to turn it into determination. They will defeat the Empire for what they've done to Lothal. They will drive them from the planet. They have to.

She looks up and down the streets as they make their way for Old Jho's – the best place to get information and get into contact with people about the rebellion – eyes promptly falling on an old poster of them, from the days they were still here on Lothal. It almost makes her nostalgic thinking about it. She misses those days, in some ways, when they were staying here all the time, even if fighting with the rest of the rebellion is good too. "Hey look, that poster," she says, motioning, "We don't even look like that anymore. They'll never recognize us now."

"That's definitely for the best," Sabine agrees, "Wish the others were that lucky."

"Are you saying you wished all of them were gender swapped too? That seems downright nasty."

"That is not what I meant."

"You there! Let me see your identification! You're out after curfew!" a voice barks. Ezra looks up sharply to see several stormtroopers surrounding a civilian only several paces down the street. Yes, they need to get moving.

"Come on," Sabine urges, and they hurry forwards, disappearing into Old Jho's. "Are you sure about this?" he asks warily, pausing at the entrance.

"Yes, it's the one place the Empire was never welcome. You could feel it," she asserts determinedly, stepping inside... and promptly freezing in her tracks. There's Imperial symbols all over the walls, and pretty much the only people in here are stormtroopers. What happened? And where is old Jho?!

"Maybe we should just... back out," she advises, under her breath.

Sabine nods his firm agreement, and they start to back for the door, only to hear stormtroopers demanding of Chopper if he saw two civilians just come inside. Great. Are they being followed already for some reason? "Any better ideas?" Sabine demands.

"Let's get a drink," she whispers, turning and walking as calmly as she can over to the counter.

"I mean good ideas!" Sabine hisses back.

"Backing out would look way too suspicious," she retorts, settling at the counter. At least no one will recognize them, hopefully. She has a farmer's hat on her head anyway, just in case, and Sabine looks far more different, so... It should be fine.

"Civilians don't usually come here," the Imperial bartender remarks as he gives them their drinks.

Ezra picks hers up, trying to keep it casual as she takes a tiny sip. "I haven't been in these parts for a while," she says, casually, "Whatever happened to Old Jho?"

"There was a rebel cell caught trying to escape," he replies, "And Old Jho was caught helping them."

For a moment, her breath catches in her throat, dread coiling inside of her. "Old Jho was captured?" she demands, voice rising a little, as she struggles to clamp down on her rising panic. Anything could've happened to him, in the time they were gone, and – The Empire is far from pleasant with the people they've captured...

"Captured and executed," the man answers flippantly.

"Executed?" she chokes out. She needs to stop reacting, but – old Jho is dead. The Empire killed him, and –

She feels Sabine's grip her arm tightly under the table in silent warning.

"Sad what happened to him," he agrees casually, "But a traitor is a traitor."

"Yes," Sabine agrees, and Ezra notices the stiffness in his voice, even if he's doing a much better job controlling himself. It's not as if he knew Old Jho, though. Ezra did. "He should've known better than to help with traitors. It's probably time for us to go."

He stands, turning to head away from the table. Ezra hastily follows, cringing internally at the vaguely suspicious look in the man's eyes as they walk away. She just totally messed up in front of Imperials, but Old Jho is dead, and – "Will you get a grip on yourself?" Sabine hisses in a whisper.

"I'm trying!" she snaps back, even if she knows he's right. She needs to calm down. Somehow.

He draws in a breath, trying to stay calm and center herself in the Force, when her eyes fall on another familiar figure in the bar. Or maybe it's just that the person is discreetly eyeing them, too, now, probably having overheard their exchange.

She hesitates a moment, before slowly approaching her old friend. "Jai Kell?" she asks, hesitantly. At least she's pretty sure that's who it is.

The boy looks up sharply, looking at them in near confusion. "Who are you?"

"Ezra," she answers, in a low voice, "No, this isn't another prank. Long story."

"Why don't we talk outside?" he proposes, standing, and the three of them slip outside, moving past the stormtroopers. They stop a distance down the street where no one will see them, before he turns to them, crossing his arms, a hint of suspicion in his eyes. "What's going on here? Who are you, really?"

Having to explain this to everyone they used to know is almost making it more trouble than it's worth to be so hidden from the Empire, but Ezra tries again anyway. At least, as it turns out, Jai actually is here because of Ryder, hoping that the Ghost crew was going to show up.

They don't have long to talk, though, before Kanan, Hera, and Zeb show up, being chased by stormtroopers, and they barely have time to escape into the sewer pipes before being caught. And now, they're lost and cornered, and Ezra has no idea what to do next.

"Everything's changed," she mumbles, despair welling inside her again, "And this? This is my fault. I'm the one who pushed for us to come back. I never thought it would be this bad. I thought – maybe Lothal is already lost." She blinks away the tears that suddenly sting her eyes. Her planet is already gone, especially since they have no way out.

"We haven't lost yet," Sabine cuts in, reaching over and grabbing her arm, "You said as long as we're together we have a chance. There has to be something more we can do."

"Like what?"

Sabine frowns, flipping on his flashlight and shining it around the area, then abruptly stops. "What's that? That's my symbol!" he exclaims. Sure enough, his symbol is painted on the wall.

A sign, then. An indication of where to go. Maybe... maybe this isn't hopeless after all.

Maybe no one else is coming to help them, but a rebellion always start small with only a few people. There has to be something they can do. There has to be, or they're going to die trying.

***

This is definitely risky, Sabine knows, but if they can get this information directly from the TIE – even if it will mean finding a way to have to sneak it off planet to the Rebellion – it isn't something they can pass up on. The others are reluctant, but they must do this. It helps when Loth cats apparently can be in the right places at the right times.

He's trying to focus on getting ahold of the information when Ezra's voice crackles through the line. "Sabine! We have to go! Now!"

"Just stall 'em," he replies. He can't be interrupted; not now. "I've almost got it."

"Stall them? How?!" Ezra protests, "It's Thrawn!"

"I'm confident you'll think of something." The connection cuts, and he hears repeated blaster shots from outside. Whatever Ezra's doing, it seems quite successful on keeping everyone away. "I don't believe it!" he exclaims. "It has a navicomputer." He climbs out from under the controls, scanning the chaos outside. "Well, Ezra, you certainly got their attention."

"I'm glad this is working for you!" she huffs.

It would have worked, maybe, except the ship has a kill switch on it, and they crashland in the snow. They do successfully get the hyperdrive though, which is good. It's something they salvaged from the mission, at least, and he thinks it'll be very useful later on, especially if they really do get trapped on Lothal.

Though Sabine is really beginning to wonder if Ezra hit her head or something in the crash because she claims to have been following a Loth cat that doesn't exist, or at least he sure didn't see one. And only a little bit later she's gazing off into space when Sabine is trying to talk to her. "Ezra!"

"What? Oh!" she exclaims, "I thought I saw something. I think it's a... Loth wolf. No one has seen them in hundreds of years, but I keep thinking I am."

"Are you sure you didn't hit your head?" he asks flatly. There are definitely no wolves sneaking around or he would have seen them for sure. A tiny cat is one thing, but a wolf?

"I – Sabine!"

It's the last thing he hears before he's opening his eyes again, sunlight covering the grass surrounding him. What? Slowly, he pushes himself up, to see the rest of the Ghost Crew already there. That doesn't make sense. "What happened?" he asks, pushing himself up.

"Did you see?" Ezra asks, surprised. "The Loth wolf?"

He shakes his head, frowning. "No. I didn't see anything."

The others exchange glances, but shrug it off, focusing instead on what they found from the TIE.

***

Stranger things have... probably never happened. At least Hera was able to get off planet with the data, but while the rest of them were trying to escape from the pursuing stormtroopers, they'd stumbled onto a number of those Loth wolves Ezra was talking about, because apparently, they are real, after all. And then the next thing Sabine knew, they were waking up down in the southern hemisphere.

He has no idea how that even happened, and he isn't going to ponder it. This 'Force' stuff will never make sense to him. But what does concern him is that they have no way of getting any transmission off planet. All he can find instead is... some sort of signal nearby.

It's an ore crawler. "They mine the surface for raw materials to feed the Imperial factory," Ryder tells them.

"And they've burned all the way down here?!" Ezra exclaims, "That's halfway across the planet!"

They really are destroying the planet, and it infuriates Sabine even if it's not his home planet. This place is like a second home to him – it was for so many years after he lost his first family – and he hates seeing it like this. And he knows it's hurting Ezra far more.

"We have to stop them," he says, determinedly. And they will. Somehow.

"That ship might be just what we need," Zeb muses.

Sabine adjusts the scope on his helmet, scanning the thing over, gaze instantly falling on what's on top of it. "You might be more right than you know, Zeb. That ship has a long-range communications array."

"One that can reach Hera?" Ezra asks hopefully, eagerly.

"I'm almost sure of it."

***

Of course, everything erupts into chaos as soon as they're on board. Zeb is still fighting with the operator when the Empire contacts them. "You activated your distress beacon and ceased output. Is there a problem?" a voice demands, "Do you copy? Over."

Oh, this is not good. Not good at all. "We better come up with something," Sabine says desperately, looking over his shoulder as the voice again demands a response. But none of them even sound like the operator, and that makes things difficult.

"Ezra, this one's on you," Kanan decides finally.

"I don't even sound like him!"

"None of us do," Sabine shoots back, "Just give it your best shot. You're the one who excels at this."

"Fine," Ezra huffs, stepping over to the controls and pressing a hand on her throat to help with the sound effect of sounding somewhat deep but a little squeaky and high-pitched at the same time.

Sabien cringes as she tries to mimic the operator. "The crawler has malfunctioned."

He groans under his breath. "They're never going to buy this. You sound a like choking loth cat."

"How do you know what a choking Loth cat sounds like?"

"You sound different," the voice on the other end says, drawing everyone's attention back to it, "What's wrong?"

"I'm... sick!"

The diversion works for only a couple more seconds, when the real operator starts screaming about pirates in the background, even as Zeb tries to quiet him. So much for this going quietly. They're going to have Imperials swarming all over them within moments. Sabine can only hope they'll have time to get the message through to Hera first.

***

Except... instead of Hera and the other pilots breaking through the blockade, Sabine sees explosions light up the sky and then, she sees the far too familiar sight of ships crashing. Dozens of them. "Is that...?" Ezra breaths, eyes widening in horror.

"The entire attack force," Sabine finishes, grimly. They were shot down. All of them. Even Hera. And now they have no ships at all, and he doesn't even know if any them are still alive and – "We have incoming gunships," he warns, scanning the horizon, trying not to think about how any chance of winning back Lothal probably just disappeared completely. There will be no reinforcements. Either they'll make do with what they have, or all of them will die.

"Hera?" Kanan calls into his comm, "Hera! Do you copy?"

They aren't getting an answer from her, though, but they can't wait. They need to get back to Ryder. They haven't made it far when Kanan suddenly slows his own speeder down. "I'm going back," he declares, firmly.

To see if Hera's alright. Sabine wishes that he could go to. Hera is... is many ways almost like a second mother figure to him, and he can't let anything happen to her if he can help it. "We should..." he begins, slowly.

"Kanan should be able to handle it," Ezra replies, though he can hear the fear and doubt in her voice, "But maybe one of us can go to help him, just in case."

"I can," Sabine offers, "I have a jetpack if I need one, and I think it'll be better if a Jedi stays with the others."

"Okay," Ezra agrees, "Good luck."

Sabine nods, then spins his speeder around, and goes in pursuit of Kanan. "Sabine?" he asks, frowning as he speeds up behind him.

"Figured you could use some help," he calls back.

Kanan nods, increasing his speed a little as they go.

It takes a little longer when they run into another Loth wolf – why do they keep seeing those everywhere?! – and then Kanan goes in the lead again, trying to follow the Force to Hera's location. They're going to stop at the entrance to a sewer pipe where the others are supposed to be coming through, but since they haven't made it through yet, Sabine insists they go in search of Hera elsewhere.

Kanan is able to somewhat track her through the town with the Force, as they dart along the roofs of the buildings, trying to stay out of sight.

"She's down there," Sabine observes, looking through her scope down from the top of a building, spotting the Twi'lek fighting with a strange creature. "And – what is that?"

"Let's just go in," Kanan advises, darting forwards. He jumps off the edge of the roof, landing easily on the ground and running for the creature. It spins around, kicking Hera back and opening fire on Kanan. He draws his lightsaber, deflecting the blasts away. Sabine drops to the ground, too, shooting at him.

The creature dives out of the way, and Hera uses the opportunity to draw her own blaster, and fires at the creature. The blast grazes across his shoulder, right as Kanan lunges forwards, slashing through the end of his blaster. The creature growls, scrambling away from them and pulling its way up the nearby wall, ducking out of sight.

"Come on," Sabine calls, running forwards. He opens the opening to the sewer pipe, and they all jump down, letting it slam closed behind them. Kanan seals it off with his lightsaber before they take off again. The creature will definitely be cutting through and trying to pursue, but they should have enough time to throw it off their trail.

"Are you okay?" Kanan asks as they run through the tunnel.

"I'm fine," Hera assures, "But only one other pilot made it out."

"Where is he?" frowns Sabine.

"I already sent him in ahead, with Chopper," she replies, "But I don't know what we're going to do now."

"All paths are coming together," Kanan replies, after a moment, "All isn't lost yet."

Sabine isn't entirely sure what that means, but it takes an edge of the hopelessness he'd been feeling and trying to ignore. "Do you have an idea what we can do?"

"Not yet, but the Force will guide us."

***

"I don't know what to do," Ezra admits, settling across from Kanan. "We lost all of our pilots, and now we're no better than off than before they came." And so many died for nothing.

"We need to let the Force guide us on what to do," Kanan replies.

"The others are giving up," she sighs. And she's trying to prevent herself from joining them. The only reason she hasn't is because Kanan is so convinced that there's something more they can do.

She settles across from Kanan in the grass, closing her eyes and letting the Force flow through her. They need a plan, and they need one now. They have to stop the production of those TIE defenders.

Slowly, an image begins to form in front of her eyes. She's standing right on the ramp of a ship beside Hera and Kanan, and instinctively, she knows that Sabine is flying the cockpit. They're right near the fuel for the factory producing the new TIE defenders as stormtroopers are closing in all around them.

And all she knows is that something is about to go terribly, terribly wrong. It's that feeling you get when you know someone is going to die.

Another explosion rings through the air, tearing right into the side of the fuel tanks. Everything happens in only a matter of seconds, as the entire thing goes up in a furiously burning ball of flames, sweeping right towards them. Kanan leaps off the ship, raising his hands and trying to hold off the oncoming fire.

"Kanan!" she hears herself and Hera yell.

He turns, holding back the fire with one hand, and then shoving the ship off the platform into the air with the other. She can only watch helplessly, horror and denial screaming through every inch of her mind as the flames finally break past his Force shield, engulfing him.

Ezra slips abruptly out of her meditation, struggling to shake the images from her mind. It wasn't real, it was just a vision, but – "Kanan," she chokes out, stumbling to her feet and over to him where he's standing a short distance away. She throws her arms around him, holding on tightly, in a desperate effort to convince herself that yes, this is real.

Was that a vision of the future, or something else? A warning? She doesn't know, and she's terrified to find out the answer to that. That can't be what's going to happen –

"Ezra? What did you see?" Kanan frowns.

"I – you – " she mumbles. How is she supposed to answer that?

"You know what I've told you about visions," he reminds, "They can't always be interpreted literally. It may have been nothing but a warning. What happened?"

"We were by the factory, and they blew up the fuel next to it. And you – you stopped the explosion, long enough for the rest of us to escape," she explains, shakily. She still can't shake the image from her mind, and she doubts she'll ever be able to. Yes, she knows sacrifices are inevitable, but Kanan –

"That... actually gives me an idea," he says contemplatively, after a few moments of silence.

"What?"

"If we blew up the fuel, it would stop the production. It wouldn't be permanent, but at least it would slow them down. And give us an advantage in whatever we do, because they would have limited fuel until more could be brought on-planet."

"That..." Actually, it's a very good idea, and she never even thought about it before. But on second thought... "It would work, I think," she agrees, "But what if that's what we did in my vision?"

"You said the Empire themselves blew up the fuel," Kanan points out, "There's a difference."

True. She can only hope that he's right. They have a chance, and they can't afford to lose it. Hopefully this really isn't what they had tried to do in her vision, even if she can't shake her fear.

"I'll go talk to the others," Kanan decides.

For a reason she can't explain, Ezra finds herself lingering outside a little longer. She's about to follow when a Loth wolf seems to materialize practically right in front of her. It moves closer to her, almost menacingly, growing lowly. "Uh... whoa," she stutters, taking a wary step away from it, "What's wrong?"

It's only response is to growl and move even closer. "What do you want?" she asks again, right as two more step out of nothingness on either side of it.

She can't explain why she's struck by the sudden overwhelming urge to run, but she does, spinning around and bolting away across the field, the Loth wolves chasing close behind. One of them slams into her, and the world blacks out when she falls.

And when she does wake up again, there's the biggest wolf she's seen in her entire life – they can get that big?! – towering over her. Things only get stranger and stranger when one of the smaller wolves produces a stone with strange markings on it out of seemingly nowhere. From the Jedi Temple, apparently, where the Empire still is?

"Restore past. Redeem future," the giant wolf tells her.

"How? How do I do this?" she demands, "What does that mean?" She has absolutely no idea.

It doesn't answer, and instead suddenly jumps forwards, opening its enormous gaping mouth, and then the next thing she knows she's waking up back in the grasses again. It's late in the evening now. She really needs to get back to the others.

She clammers to her feet, eyes promptly falling on the stone lying right beside her. It... that was all real?! None of this makes any sense to her, but she's sure Kanan will be able to help her figure it out. Reaching down, she lifts the stone, and heads back for where the others are waiting.

"We have a chance," Hera is saying determinedly as she enters, "We can still beat them. Once this is over."

"And I know what we need to do as soon as blow up that fuel," Ezra declares, stepping forwards, "The Jedi Temple is in danger. And we're the only ones who can do anything about it."

"What's that?" Sabine asks.

"I got it from the wolves."

Kanan walks over, looking down at it though it's not as if he can really see it. He's probably poking at it with the Force. "Do you have any idea what it is?" Ezra wonders.

"No, but when we go there, we'll find out."

***

Sabine will never understand how Ezra and Kanan are able to summon these wolves at will, but at least they are faster transports than speeders. The five of them crouch on a ridge above the Temple, watching as the Imperial workers move about doing... He's actually not sure what they're doing. "They're searching for something, but I'm not sure what."

"The door is gone," Ezra frowns, looking through the macrobinoculars, "And it looks like one of them has been cut right out of the surface."

"Is that really the Temple? It looks like solid rock," he objects.

"The Temple can only be opened by Force-sensitives. It would have sealed itself off," Kanan replies.

"Any idea what the Empire wants?" Hera wonders.

"We'll find out," Kanan replies firmly.

"Well, they've uncovered more artwork," Sabine offers, "Maybe I can figure it out if I get closer."

"Let's move in," Kanan decides, standing. He, Sabine, and Ezra all scramble out of their hiding spot, darting forwards towards the Temple. Once they steal stormtrooper armor, it's easy enough to get inside, and find a position where they can overhear a transmission between Hydan – the Imperial operator here – and the Emperor.

"We have reached the roots of the temple and uncovered some fascinating work. The symbols and iconography are reminiscent of a report in discovered in the Jedi Archives," he reports.

"The Mortis gods?" the Emperor asks.

"What's that?" hisses Ezra in a whisper.

"I don't know," answers Kanan.

"Yes, they are key to unlocking the temple. I am sure of it," Hydan continues.

"There has a been a disturbance in the Force, and it is growing, centered on Lothal," the Emperor replies, in his normal chilling tone.

"Perhaps access to the Temple will provide clarity, my lord."

"We must seize the power within, a conduit between the living and the dead," he responds, "Proceed." The transmission ends at that.

Sabine looks up at Kanan with a frown. "What are we going to do?"

"The Sith are involved here," he replies, "That much is clear."

"We have to stop him," Ezra declares firmly.

"And we will," Kanan agrees.

The moment the other stormtroopers are distracted, the three of them hurry for the artwork on the wall, of three strange looking beings. Sabine looks it over, for anything noteworthy.

Figuring out what needs to be done is easier than he was expecting, except the moment Kanan and Ezra start trying to do whatever Force things they need to in order to get it open, the other stormtroopers promptly start coming back. As they lead Sabine away to talk to Hydan – the other two were able to hide in time – he can only hope they'll be able to take care of their end of this.

***

Voices echo all around Ezra as she slowly pushes herself up, looking around the darkness surrounding her on all sides. Everything is black, but at the same time, she can see it as though it isn't. "What is this place?!" she exclaims.

"A time between times?" Kanan says uncertainly, slowly starting to walk down the pathways that seem to criss-cross endlessly.

Ezra follows, slowly. She doesn't know where they're going, but – "Look!" she exclaims, running forwards, over to a strange white-outlined circle into nothingness. "That bird – it's always with Ahsoka."

The green bird perched on top chirps at them, but doesn't move. "It wants to show us something," Kanan realizes.

The white-outlined circle in front of them suddenly starts to glow red, before all at once it opens almost like a portal. On the other side is a scene that she remembers far too vividly. Darth Vader stands across from Ahsoka, both of them with their lightsabers out.

"Ahsoka!" yells a voice and Ezra looks up sharply to see himself far on the other side. The version of herself when she was still a boy. From Malachor.

"What?!" she exclaims, "What – it can't be!" It's been so long since she last saw Ahsoka, and now, the Togruta is literally standing right in front of her – except in the past.

The bird twitters again, almost desperately. "I think it wants us to do something," Ezra says, desperately.

"This is the past," Kanan reminds, "Interfering in the flow of time like that could be very dangerous."

"But we're here for a reason!" she protests, unable to tear her gaze away from the fight.

An explosion rings out, and the Temple starts collapsing on the duo. Ahsoka steps back, stabbing her lightsabers into the floor, cracking rapidly spreading. The cyborg swings for her head, and blinding desperation surges through Ezra. She lunges forwards, halfway through the portal, grabbing Ahsoka and yanking her out, just as everything collapses, and Vader falls from sight.

"Ahsoka?" Ezra asks, pushing herself into a sitting position.

She looks up, looking around in confusion. "Kanan?" she pauses, frowning, "Wait, what happened? Where am I? Where's Ezra?"

"That would be her," he says dryly, pointing.

She frowns. "What?"

"I might've uhh... just blame the Force!" Ezra offers.

Ahsoka looks completely confused. "You're Ezra?" she asks, incredulously.

"Yeah, like I said, just blame the Force. I don't know what it did to me."

"She stumbled into some Dark Side trap, and we didn't know how to undo it," Kanan explains.

The Togruta still looks perplexed, but looks slowly around. "Where am I?"

"Ezra might have just pulled you into somewhere between time and space," Kanan explains.

"I saw you fighting Vader and he was going to..." Ezra trails off. She couldn't stand there and watch it happen. "So, I grabbed you and pulled you out of there."

"How did you get here?" Ahsoka queries.

"You've missed a lot."

They catch her up on it, briefly, before Kanan interjects, "We need to leave. I don't think we should stay in here for so long."

"Do you know how to close it?" the Togruta queries.

"No, but I'm sure Sabine can figure it out. We can all do it together," Ezra offers.

"I can't come with you," she objects.

Ezra stops, frowning. "But... why?"

"Perhaps I can," The dark sinister voice rings out behind them, and it's far more real than any of the constant whispers from all across time that she's kept hearing from the moment they came in here. Ezra whirls around in time to see another portal opening. A hooded figure stands there, who she instantly recognizes as the Emperor. No. He's found them. Ahsoka's eyes narrow, and she instantly steps forwards, positioning herself defensively in front of both of them.

"Ezra Bridger, Kanan Jarrus, Ahsoka Tano," the Emperor cackles, "Mine at last."

"We need to go," Kanan hisses, but the other two are too rooted to the stop to move. All at once, the strange, bright blue... fire in front of the Emperor surges forwards, pouring through the portal straight towards them. Ahsoka throws up her hands, trying to deflect it away. The other two instantly join, and they push it back, but only for a moment.

The sound of the Emperor cackling fills the darkness, and Ezra doesn't stick around to find out what he's going to do next. She runs.

They split pathways as they run, and Kanan and Ezra make it through the entrance barely in time, faceplating onto the floor. "Ezra! Kanan!" Sabine exclaims, and she looks up to see the Ghost crew all gathered right around the opening.

"Come on, we need to get out of here," Hera urges.

"Wait, no, we have to seal the portal," Ezra objects. They can't leave until they do, no matter what.

In the end, closing the portal works a little better than expected, in a way. The Temple collapses completely, but at least no one will ever be able to get into the World Between Worlds like that again.

***

"I'm still not fully convinced that you are really you," Ketsu says flatly.

Sabine huffs. He had been intentionally avoiding contact with her for a while now because it was easier than trying to explain, and with her being gone on Rebellion missions all the time, there wasn't a whole lot of time to talk anyway.

"Who else do you think could've painted this armor?" he defends.

"Maybe the real Sabine did it for you."

"Would you like me to paint yours to prove it?"

"No thanks."

"Then I suppose you'll just have to accept that I am who I claim I am," he smirks.

"I still have my doubts," Ketsu warns, "But I don't know what other idiot would be willing to join up with the Rebellion like you did."

"You apparently," he shoots back.

"Fair enough," she agrees, "I don't know how you're planning to take Lothal with so few people, but I assume you have a plan."

He really doesn't, actually. It's Ezra and Kanan's plan, and he knows they're following the Force to figure out what to do, so he can only hope it will work.

Sabine leaves the others, going in search of the two. They're sitting across from each other, and Ezra looks distinctly worried. "Is something happening?" he wonders, approaching.

"Ezra had a vision," Kanan explains.

"Something changed," Ezra replies, "Something's happening. I have to talk to Hera."

Hera answers the call almost immediately, thankfully. "We need to act right now if we're going to take the capital city from the Empire," Ezra declares firmly. What? Why the suddenness?

"Your plan is crazy enough as it is. What's the rush?" argues Zeb.

"The Emperor is sending Thrawn back to Lothal."

No, no. The only reason Sabine dared to hope this plan could work is because Thrawn isn't here. If he comes back, it's going to be next to impossible. He knows they're strategies far too well.

"Once he's back, we won't be able to do it," Kanan adds, "We have to do it now or never."

"Then it's never. We won't stand a chance. We already tried and failed. Our only hope is to law low, organize, and rebuild," Ryder insists.

"You have to trust us," Ezra asserts.

"We have a plan, and we know how to do it with the resources we have," Kanan declares, "And to start it, we need just one person."

***

It's only thanks to the Loth wolves help that they're getting this far. Luring the governor out into a trap was simple enough, and then, with the wolves' help, they defeated the other Imperials and took her captive. And since she also happens to dislike wolves towering over her, she was willing to help them sneak to the center of the Capital City.

But, of course, that's when everything promptly goes wrong, because Thrawn comes out of hyperspace, positioning his Star Destroyer right over to the Imperial Dome so they can't launch it.

"Just so that you understand my intentions are genuine," Thrawn goes on, over the holotransmission with him, which is going very, very badly, "I shall demonstrate my power. Open fire."

Horror freezes Sabine in place as he watches the Star Destroyer, laser blasts bombarding the planet surface. Smoke and flames fill the air, and he can see the people running everywhere as buildings start collapsing. No, this has to stop. They have to free Lothal, but they can't sacrifice thousands of civilians while they're doing it, or who exactly are they freeing it for?!

"Enough! I surrender!" Ezra yells.

"I await your arrival," Thrawn replies, "Both you and your Jedi master. And make no mistake, come alone. If you attempt any heroics, I will resume the bombardment and destroy your city and then your friends."

The hologram flicks off, and Ezra turns, taking a step towards the door. "We have to move quickly," Kanan interrupts, "If we can get that shield generator back online, we may be able to continue as planned. Then we have to hold out until... help arrives."

"Help?" Sabine echoes, raising an eyebrow.

"We have a plan, for in case Thrawn came back," Ezra explains, "Now is hardly the time to talk about it." While he really has a lot of questions about that, like why this is the first time they're hearing about it, he keeps them to himself. They need to focus right now.

Sabine immediately hurries over the stations' schematics, looking them over. "We'll have to assume the generator room will be well-guarded. So, we'll need two teams to hit it from different sides if we're gonna capture both power terminals."

Within moments, everybody is gathered, waiting for instructions. "Rex, Hondo, Ketsu, Ezra, you take the north tower," Sabine instructs, "Zeb, Kallus, Gregor, Kanan, you take the south. I'll talk you through it from here." He can only hope this is going to work, and that Thrawn won't run out of patience in the meantime.

They're definitely making a lot more progress through the halls than they would be if they didn't have Kanan and Ezra to help, but it's still taking far too long, and they're running out of time. Sabine does his best to use the blast doors to trap stormtroopers away from them, trying to clear a straight path to get to the generators.

But in the end, Sabine really isn't surprised when Thrawn contacts them again. "Your time has run out, rebel," he greets, "If you do not surrender immediately, I will begin bombarding the city."

"You're stormtroopers might have destroyed most of the shuttles. They're trying to find one that's still operational," Sabine retorts.

"I see," he says, sounding most unimpressed, "Perhaps I can assist them in finding a shuttle more quickly." He turns, looking to someone off the holo transmission. "Prepare for a full-scale bombardment of the site on my command."

Sabine flips off the transmission, whirling to the others. "Guys, it's now or never!" he yells, desperately.

"Now!"

All at once, the guns on the Star Destroyer open fire, only to hit the shield now formed protectively over the city.

"It worked!" Hera exclaims, "The shield is holding. The city is safe."

With that taken care of, Sabine sprints over to wake up Chopper, ordering the very lazy droid – can't it understand when things are time sensitive? – to contact the Ghost, wherever the ship took off to. It's almost time to get out of here.

"Was that the help Ezra was talking about?!" Hera demands incredulously from where she stands at the window.

"What?" Sabine spins around to see... purgil? all over in the sky, destroying the Star Destroyers. and moments later, they're all gone into hyperspace.

The sky is clear. They can finish the plan, and Lothal will be free.

***

Ezra can hardly believe that this day has finally come. For so long, she had almost started to think that it might be too late for Lothal. But here she is, standing at the railing of Old Jho's.

So many people have died for this, but at least they've finally achieved something. Lothal is free, and because of that, so many more people actually saw hope to start fighting against the Empire. It struck an enormous blow to the Empire, and they've never recovered. They didn't have the forces to try coming back and reclaiming Lothal either.

Still, just in case something does happen, Ezra finally opted to staying on Lothal, helping her home planet rebuild. The rest of her family is here as well, though they do help the main part of the Rebellion from time to time.

But... in the end, at least they're all still together and alive.

Ezra has no idea if things would have turned out the same way if not for the mission gone very wrong where she and Sabine ended up like this, but she knows that change affected a lot of what came after. It's changed slight decision they've made in the past, and those decisions could have very far-reaching consequences. She doesn't know, and she probably never will, but in the end, it doesn't really matter.

They're all here and together – with a new member of the Ghost crew now, Jacen Syndulla – and Ezra can't ask for anything more.

Chapter Text

"Han! Luke said not to go in there!"

Luke looks up sharply at the sound of Leia's voice, to see her standing with her arms crossed at the edge of the small lake, which Han is now slowly stepping into.

"Han!" Luke protests, eyes widening. The Force in this place is seriously setting him on edge, and he doesn't know why, but he doesn't care to poke around and find out. His limited Jedi training is hardly enough for him to figure anything out anyway. It probably doesn't matter either, so long as they stay away from that swamp, get the supply mission done, and get out of here.

"Come on, kid. You're overreacting," Han insists, only taking a step further.

The Force flares in warning, and Luke runs over to him, into the edge of the water. The strange, cold, darkness seems to curl around him, warning him to get back, but he takes a few steps closer anyway.

"Han!"

His friend ignores him – Luke is beginning to think it's simply because Leia told him to stop – and takes a few steps further into the water.

"Luke, at least you get out of there," Leia huffs, and takes a few steps closer herself, into the water.

"Come on, it's been a long time since we spent time anywhere but in that endless snow, and the mission is already done."

"Well, maybe we can stop to relax somewhere that isn't where Luke senses danger?" Leia snaps.

Luke doesn't have another chance to reply. The Force suddenly surges, curling around him. He doesn't have a chance to yell a warning – even if he did, they'd never be able to get back to the shore in time – before the next thing he knows, he's waking up lying on his back, staring up at the bright sky above him.

But something doesn't feel right. He doesn't feel right, though he couldn't exactly say in what way. How did they just get back to the beach?! Why does he not remember walking back here?!

Slowly, Luke sits up, and – why are his clothes so big?! They fit perfectly fine a moment ago!

A very long strand of blonde hair falls into his face, and he reaches up, brushing it aside, only to feel – wait, why is his hair so long all of a sudden?!

What in the world is going on here?! He looks down at himself again, only to rapidly realize that maybe the reason he feels so weird is because... he suddenly looks like a girl? What in the name of the Force just happened?

"Luke?" asks a strange, deep, though familiar, voice, and his – her – head snaps to the side to see... someone – a boy with dark brown hair slowly sitting up – and the dress he's wearing looks so completely ridiculous that Luke probably would have started laughing if... she wasn't so completely lost right now.

And next to Leia, who is now a boy, is a girl with dark brown hair who's wearing the exact same clothes that Han was, which are also now a little bit too big.

"Leia –" Luke tries to reply, except her voice comes out strangely high-pitched.

"What happened to you two?!" Han asks incredulously, then winces and frowns down at herself when she hears what she sounds like.

"The same thing that happened to you, it appears," Leia observes.

"... what's going on?" Han demands, almost warily.

"I don't know!" Luke exclaims. All she does know is that, suddenly, they're all literally different genders,and she's only half sure if she's dreaming or what. What in the world just happened?! "I think it had something to do with that swamp."

"How could going into a swamp do this?!" Leia demands.

"I felt a disturbance in the Force," Luke offers. Which explains absolutely nothing. She wishes more than anything that Ben was here, so she could maybe ask him if he knows anything about things like this, or what they're even supposed to do now.

"The 'Force' can do this?" Han queries dubiously, voicing Luke's exact thoughts.

"I don't know!" she exclaims again, "I don't know any more than you do."

"What I know is there obviously was a reason we shouldn't have gone in that swamp," Leia grumbles. It keeps taking Luke a moment to realize who's talking because of how different their voices sound, even if they feel almost completely the same in the Force.

"Hey, I didn't know this would happen!" Han protests.

Leia huffs. "Well, since stepping into that swamp made us like this, maybe going back in will change us back."

"Or maybe it will make it worse," Luke says, apprehensively. Though she doesn't know what could be worse than this, in all honesty. Maybe being turned into a non-sentient animal?

She's literally suddenly a girl. And Leia is a boy, and Han is also a girl, and Force, what are they going to do?

"Couldn't be worse than this," Han agrees, standing, "Come on."

Luke trails after the other two – wishing her clothes weren't so big – and the three of them splash into the water.

Nothing happens. She doesn't even feel the Force here the way she did before though it was turbulent. Which means that Luke has absolutely no idea what they're supposed to do now. As far as she knows, she's the only Jedi out there, and this is something only Force users would obviously know anything about. It still doesn't even make any sense. How can the Force change someone's gender like this?!

"This isn't helping," Leia observes unhappily as they continue to splash around.

"No, it isn't," Luke agrees.

"I'm liking this 'Force' even less now," Han says flatly as they splash back to shore.

Luke withholds a comment about how maybe this wouldn't have happened if he hadn't gone charging in there for no good reason in the first place. "Well, I don't know what to do," she sighs as they step back out onto the bank.

"We'll have to go back to base," Leia replies, "We're still on a mission here."

"Yeah, but that doesn't explain what we're going to do about it," Luke objects.

"I've been all over the galaxy, but I've never seen anything like this," Han offers unhelpfully, not like she really could be helpful at this point.

"Do you think it will... wear off?" Leia wonders, daring to sound hopeful.

Luke wants to say she thinks it will wear off, but she realizes with sudden growing worry, could a change this major wear off? How would it? That really doesn't sound like how the Force works. "I don't – I don't know, but I'm not sure how it could."

"You think this might be... permanent?!" demands Han, looking suddenly alarmed.

"It appears so. Nice job, Han," Leia says flatly.

"Hey, I don't know anything about this Force stuff," she defends.

Leia huffs again, and Luke personally marvels at how Leia looks the most calm about the situation. Or maybe it's just that he hasn't thought through the full reality of this insane situation just yet. They already had more than enough going on with fighting the Empire; they really didn't need to deal with this,too.

"Well, what's done is done," Leia decides at last, "We can't change it. And we better get back to the base before they start to wonder if something happened to us."

***

Right now, Leia isn't convinced that he hasn't gone completely insane, because this is absolutely ridiculous. How is he suddenly a boy?! That's literally not possible. And for the record, Han and Luke look absurd. He can imagine the same is true for him.

Artoo rolls out to greet them as they approach the ship, beeping furiously in complete confusion.

"I don't know, Artoo," Luke replies, and Leia doesn't think he'll ever get used to how strange their voices sound. Seriously, is this permanent? Please do not let this be permanent.

He can't even begin to think about all the ramifications of something like this, so he's trying to just take it a step at a time. (Like he had to do after Alderaan, lest he break down and go to pieces completely.)

Artoo beeps again, something about how they look different.

"Yes, it appears we got a new... design," Leia agrees. How else are they supposed to explain this to a droid?

"New design?" repeats Han, "That's sure is one way to put it, and by the way, Your Highness, you look outrageous."

"You look like you're swimming in your clothes. Both of you," he shoots back, glancing down at his dress again. Yes, he can only imagine what he looks like in a dress, especially when it's tight, thanks to his sudden, larger size, and he has absolutely no desire to look in a mirror.

"No kidding," Luke mutters.

"Well, it might fit you," Leia offers, motioning down at her dress.

"No!" Luke exclaims, "I'm not going to wear a dress!"

Han laughs.

"What?" she asks defensively.

"Just picturing you in a dress, kid."

"Hey, you could always wear it too."

"Wouldn't that be a sight," Leia snickers.

"It wouldn't even fit me," Han denies, "And dresses are for princesses."

"We are all going to need new clothes though, if this is going to last," Leia points out. Though he cannot imagine spending the rest of his life as a boy. Seriously. It doesn't change much, but at the same time, it really does.

"Instead of worrying about clothes, why don't we worry about how we're going to explain this to Command?" Luke advises.

"The Force did it," Han drawls, "We'll just tell them that."

"Maybe we can just... ask someone else to report it to them while we drop by at the medbay," suggests Leia.

"Medbay?" echoes Han, "Why would we go there?"

"Probably because maybe there's something they could do about it?"

"And if nothing else, I don't know what other consequences this Force thing could've had on us," Luke agrees. Yes, this is definitely getting more and more complicated, and he can already feel himself getting a headache. Or maybe it's just a result of this having happened in the first place.

The rest of the ride through hyperspace, Leia spends trying to figure out how in the world he's supposed to explain something like this to anyone. No one will even recognize them, but at least Artoo can vouch for them. That doesn't mean a whole lot, though.

Leia is more than a little grateful that when they do land at the base, everybody is too busy to pay much attention, so the only person waiting right outside there for them is Threepio.

"Oh my!" he exclaims as the three of them file off the ship, "Who are you? Artoo! Where are Master Luke and Princess Leia?!"

Artoo beeps.

"You obviously have much to learn about human behavior," Threepio retorts, "Human do not get new designs."

The droid beeps again.

"Don't call me a mindless philosopher, you overweight glob of grease!"

"He's right this time, Threepio," Leia says, stepping forward.

"Something happened with the Force. I can't really explain it," Luke explains, "But getting a new design is probably the simplest explanation."

If Threepio's eyes could grow rounder, Leia could almost swear that they just did as he looks in complete confusion between them. "Dear me," he gasps, "This will take some getting used to."

***

Han stands awkwardly behind Luke and Leia as they try to explain the situation to Threepio. This makes absolutely no sense, and she's beginning to dislike this 'Force' business more and more. She thinks her former description of the Force as 'simple tricks and nonsense' fits more than ever right now, except more like 'very complicated tricks that defy all laws of existence.'.

She very much does not want to look in mirror because she has no interest in knowing what she looks like now. She sounds and feels like a complete buffoon enough as is. And the other two – especially Leia thanks to her clothes – look completely ridiculous as well.

There's a sudden, familiar growling, and Chewbacca lumbers into view, then stops, looking hopelessly confused.

"Hey, Chewie!" Han calls in greeting, wincing at the sound of her voice again.

"Who are you?" the Wookie growls.

Great. How is she even supposed to explain this?! "While we were gone on the mission, we went into a swamp and came out like this. Luke says to blame the Force."

"You're Han?" Chewie asks skeptically.

"Yeah." She can't help but laugh even though there's really nothing funny about this situation. It's the craziest thing that's happened in her life. "If you think that name still fits."

On second thought, that's actually a very good point. Do their names still fit?

Chewbacca growls uncertainly walking a little closer to them.

"We're just as confused as you are," Luke offers.

"I'm sure we smell the same too, or at least mostly," Han adds. That is how Chewie often identities people he met forever ago, so...

The Wookie sniffs the air, and growls affirmatively before stopping in front of them, reaching over and patting Han on the head. "You're small."

She grimaces. "Yeah, I know. I'm not enjoying it either."

The Wookie growls again.

She huffs. "Maybe you don't think I look so bad, but this is maddening!"

Yes, she is definitely never going to walk into any swamps again in her life, until Luke gives the okay. Although maybe she actually should,in the mere chance that something might switch then back. Maybe. She has absolutely no idea. But she has to admit she really wishes she had listened to Luke now, because this is ridiculous.

"This way, no one will recognize you," Chewbacca points out.

... right. "Now that you mention it..." Han muses, "That means we won't have to pay our debt to Jabba." Any bounty hunter who comes looking for them will have no idea who she is. Okay, maybe this insanity has some useful purposes after all.

Chewbacca growls happily, and abruptly yanks her into a crushing hug. She's never cared much for getting all snuggly with people – Chewbacca happens to like it though – but she finds she's enjoying the contact maybe a tad more than she used to. Unless it's just the circumstances.

"Did I miss something?" inquires Luke, looking over at them, away from his conversation with Threepio who is mid-lamenting, "I'm so confused."

"I don't have to pay the debt to Jabba," Han announces smugly, pulling away from the Wookie.

"...oh, that's great!" Luke exclaims.

"So... you're staying?" Leia asks. She'll never get used to being at about the same height as him, instead of staring down at him – her – all the time. The pronouns are becoming so confusing.

"Looks like I am," she agrees, then smirks, "Why? Were you afraid I was gonna leave without giving you a goodbye kiss?"

"I'd sooner kiss a Wookie," he retorts.

"That could be arranged," Han retaliates. She still... feels the way she used to towards Leia, even if the feelings seem almost more intense, in a way. Actually, all of her emotions do, or maybe it's just that her brain doesn't seem to be working the same way.

Chewbacca growls, sounding appalled.

"No, I was insinuating nothing of the kind!" Han protests, desperately.

Luke sighs, though she looks mildly amused herself. "I don't know if you two are interested in talking about this anymore, but... We really should be getting to the medbay."

"There really isn't anything for us to talk about, and yes, I agree," Leia replies.

The words sting the slightest amount, even if Han is hardly sure why. She knows Leia cares for her, even if he's stubbornly denying it, though, and she's long since gotten used to that. Maybe it's just because of the situation that the comment rubbed her the wrong way.

"Yeah, come on," she agrees, looking to Luke, who is rolling her eyes in the background.

***

Needless to say, the medics checking them over have probably never been this baffled in their entire lives. Luke honestly feels bad for them, especially since she feels their total confusion too.

While the medics do whatever testing they are planning to do, the three of them are left momentarily alone. "It's going to be strange to call you Luke when you aren't even a boy anymore," Leia comments.

"I could say the same to you," Han remarks.

"All of our names are weird now," Luke says flatly. She can't imagine having a different one, but "Luke" is hardly a girl name.

"I ain't changing mine," Han retorts.

"I was just going to say, maybe slightly modifying our names is the best idea," Leia offers, "We aren't... the same as we used to be, and I think changing our names would help."

"I guess I could just go with Lukka," Luke suggests, "It's close enough."

"It... fits you," Han agrees.

"What about going by Hanna?" she suggests.

"That's way too feminine."

"You are a girl now," Leia reminds.

"What are you going to go by?" Han retaliates, "I don't think Leial or Aeal work."

Leia doesn't so much as grant her a response. "Otherwise we could swap names," he suggests, dryly.

"I like the sound of that," Luke – Lukka says, "But I think it would be too confusing."

"Probably," he concedes, reluctantly, "But perhaps I could take another version of your name. What about... Lucan?"

"It fits," Hanna offers, crossing her arms.

"So, Lucan it is." How he'll ever get used to the name change, he has no idea.

"This is... unusual," one of the medics declares, frowning.

"What?" Lucan asks. They changed clothes before coming here, so at least he looks somewhat presentable. Unless Lukka is very mistaken, she's pretty sure he's wearing some of Han's clothes, while she herselfdecided to wear one of Leia's dresses, in the end, after all, even though she hopes this is the last time she'll ever have to. So, what if she's technically a girl right now? It looks stupid on her.

"If the blood tests that we did on both of you are accurate, it appears that you are biological siblings."

Biological –

Wait – what?!

"We're – what?!" Lukka demands.

"How could they be siblings?" asks Hanna dubiously from the other side of the room.

Siblings.

Luke and Leia are twins. Lukka looks up, eyes locking with her former twin sister but now brother. They're twins. They must be. They were born on the same day.

Lukka noticed it from the moment they met, that it always felt like they had a... connection. Actually, he knew it from the moment he saw that hologram of her from Artoo, even if he never knew what it meant. For as much as he cares for Han and Chewie, and all his other rebel friends, it's never been like how he feels towards Leia.

She's his twin. He doesn't understand how that's even possible, but...

"Who are our parents?" Lucan asks, faintly.

"According to what our tests show, your parents are Anakin Skywalker and Padme Amidala. It also appears that both of you are only 75% human, and 25% unknown."

For a moment, both of them just sit there staring. Lukka doesn't know who 'Padme' is, but it hardly matters right now. They're twins. Siblings. Biological family. Some of his biological family is still alive after all.

She's suddenly overcome by an overwhelming urge to throw herself into Lucan's arms, her twin brother, and she does, without hesitating another second. Lucan instantly wraps his arms around her tightly in turn. "I don't believe this," he mumbles in a way that implies that he very much does.

"I always knew that we had a connection," Lukka murmurs into her brother's shoulder. She still can't believe this either.

"Hang on, what do you mean they're 25% unknown? They look human to me!" Hanna finally breaks the silence.

"We don't know. We've never seen DNA like this before," the medic replies. "It is abnormally... perfect."

Lukka would like some answers in that regard too – maybe Padme was half a different species? – but right now, all he cares about is that Lucan is her brother.

***

"I still can't believe this," Lukka says breathlessly once she and Lucan find themselves alone again. Hanna went to talk to Chewie, and that leaves the two of them to talk in private.

Lucan has absolutely no idea what he thinks right now. His adopted family was the only family he ever cared to have, the best family he could have ever asked for, even if there was an occasional time that he wondered after the identities of his biological family.

He always knew there was something special about Lukka, even if he never dreamed it could be something like this. He has a sister. Well, once it would have been a brother, but either way, he has a sibling.

"I can't, either," Lucan agrees. It hardly feels real. Although honestly, it feels more real than the fact that they're literally gender swapped and may well be this way for the rest of their lives.

"I've been wondering..." Lukka says slowly, "Do you know who Padme is?"

Oh. Right. It never even occurred to him that his brother might have no idea who that is. "I didn't know she was my biological mother," Lucan replies, "But my father always spoke very highly of her. She was the queen of Naboo."

"She was a queen?" Lukka exclaims.

"Yeah. I actually learned quite a bit about her in history, too. She was the Senator for Naboo when the Republic collapsed. My father always blamed her death on the Empire."

"Oh," she frowns, "I don't know much about Naboo, but... aren't there only humans there?"

"There's a pretty large Gungan population, if you know what those are," Lucan remarks.

"Aren't they amphibians – Wait, don't tell me Padme was half-Gungan!"

Lucan gapes at her. "What?! Where did you even get that from?"

Lukka turns red. "I mean –! Nevermind, I suppose Gungan DNA would be known. I just don't understand how we're only 75% human."

"Oh, that. Well as far as I know, Padme was 100% human, so I don't get it either." He frowns. "But I thought Anakin was too."

Lukka shrugs. "As far as I know, he was. I mean my aunt and uncle certainly were!"

"I don't think we'll be getting an answer to this any time soon," Lucan replies. He's still completely mind-blown about how, apparently, Padme is his mother, and that Anakin Skywalker is his father. He never knew much about the Jedi, but Anakin was one of the ones his adopted father would occasionally mention.

"I wish I could know more about them," Lukka admits, after a moment, "I always wanted to know my father, you know. I wasn't raised by people who I considered parents, the way you were."

"I can imagine," Lucan says, "I... have to say I wish I knew more about them too. And maybe we will someday, but they're both dead." Just like her adopted parents. Lukka is the only family member he has left.

"Yeah," Lukka says, a little glumly, "I wish I could've gotten to know him. Both of them, actually."

"Me too." He would never wish that he wasn't raised by his adopted parents, because they still feel like his parents more than Anakin and Padme ever could, but at the same time, he can't help but wish.

***

Hanna has to say she's more than a little elated that she won't have to deal with Jabba anymore. The only slight problem is that bounty hunters will still be able to recognize Chewie, and they're still looking for him too, but that was only because of his known association with her. It should be easier for Chewie now. Maybe they can play it off as 'Han' being dead.

She's still pondering it as she works on part of the Falcon when she hears a movement behind her. Hanna looks up sharply to see Lucan approaching.

"Isn't it a little late for princesses – I mean princes – to be up?" she teases.

"Isn't it a little late for someone who has Alliance duties to attend to tomorrow to be up?" he retaliates.

Hanna scoffs. "Won't be doing anything until I get these repairs made."

Lucan is silent a moment before speaking again. "You are planning to stay, right?"

"I am," she agrees, "Now that I have Jabba off my tail."

"I'm glad to hear... The Alliance needs you." He's relieved, she can tell. She's glad to see it, too, because sometimes, she worries that the other doesn't feel the same about her as she does towards him.

"That's the only reason?" She turns her gaze back to the ship, continuing to work.

"Not the only reason," Lucan admits, after a moment, "You may have acted like a scoundrel most of the time when you were Han, but –"

"Scoundrel?" repeats Hanna, "I like the sound of that."

"Then feel free to keep the label," Lucan says flatly, "But as I was saying, you still have your moments." Well, that's an unusual comment, coming from him. He isn't exactly the same as he was as a girl, though. Not in a good or bad way, just different.

And she doesn't know why she's suddenly feeling ridiculously emotional at the confirmation that Lucan does feel like that towards her – not that she had really believed otherwise, but still. She doesn't really know how to deal with emotions like this. (It's been hard since Qi'ra and – okay she doesn't even want to think about her right now because imagining meeting her now would be... very weird.) "So, you do admit it, that you like it when I'm around," she finally settles for instead.

"Don't push it," Lucan advises, though he sounds the faintest bit amused.

Maybe, Hanna can't help but think, they might have more of a chance at a relationship beyond getting on each other's nervous that he thought.

***

Lucan is more than a little relieved to hear that Hanna is planning to stay. The biggest reason he was so worried about her leaving in the first place was that he was afraid she wouldn't end up coming back. He definitely does care for her a lot, even if there's a part of him that fears that, after everything that he's lost. It's different with Lukka because... he doesn't know why, really. It just is.

But there's a few other complications that Lucan is having to deal with now, and he frankly doesn't really know how to handle it. People always looked up to him as a leader because he was the former princess of Alderaan, and it was a symbol of hope, in a way. But now, he can hardly be considered a princess anymore. And Alderaan only ever had queens.

He's obviously still looked up to as a leader but it just feels... different. It doesn't matter that much, really, but this whole situation is a million kinds of weird, and it's going to take a very long time to get used to it.

Beyond having to urgently deal with clothing arrangements – for the most part him and Lukka just swapped clothes – they also have to get used to their new bodies. Lucan still finds it weird to suddenly be this tall. He's always been shorter than literally everyone around, but that's different now. It doesn't sound like a big deal, and it really isn't,but he still struggles.

And they have to get used to a new form of fighting. It's not really a big issue since, for the most part, they only ever fought with blasters so being a different shape and size doesn't really change that, but it's still something all of them will have to get used to.

Lucan has to admit, though, it's almost worth it since it meant he found out that Lukka is his sister. They may not have otherwise known for a long time, and... He's just glad to know that he does still have a family member out there.

Chapter Text

Something is wrong. Lucan doesn't know how he knows it, but he does. And he also instinctively knows that it has something to do with Lukka. He can't place it, but now, he at least suspects how and why he knows. If Lukka has the Force, and their father did too, there's a high chance he has it as well, at least to a point.

No one seems to have heard from her yet, so he finally goes in search of Hanna. "Have you heard anything from Lukka?" he asks, anxiously.

"Nothing," she replies, "Why?"

"I don't know where she is. Nobody does." And Hoth is far from a hospitable environment. Anything could've happened to her out there, and he knows that she needs help.

"What do you mean 'nobody knows'?" Hanna asks.

"She hasn't said anything, and there's no way she just forgot to check in. Besides, I... have a feeling," Lucan explains.

Hanna frowns. She does not look any happier than Lucan feels right now. "Then we need to go find her. It's already getting late, and the temperature is dropping." With Lukka out in it.

Lucan couldn't agree more. Lukka must have gotten herself into some sort of trouble, because there's no other explanation for why she isn't back yet.

Sending Hanna to get an animal for them to ride, Lucan goes to find the lieutenant in charge. "If we don't come back or you don't hear from us, just lock down the base for the night," he instructs. They don't need to risk themselves because the three of them are gone. They'll figure something out on their own if they must.

"Yes, sir," the lieutenant replies, though he can tell that he's less than happy about the order.

The two of them head out, and Lucan finds that beyond the trail they're trying to follow to find her, it almost feels as though something is nudging him in the right direction. Maybe it really is the Force.

***

They find Lukka successfully, injured but alive. It's cold and the sun is setting, so the three of them camp out that night and return to the base the next morning. Hanna can just be glad that she's going to be alright. If they hadn't gone to find her...

She seems seriously worn out, which is unsurprising, but they don't get to stick around long, because then, command calls. A probe droid was spotted, and more than likely, that means the Empire figured out that they're here. There's no time to wait around and find out. It's time to evacuate.

And it's hardly any time after that,that the news is all over the base: there's a fleet of Star Destroyers coming out of hyperspace. They're almost out of time. She won't deny being more than a little nervous. She's certain she'll be fine, but she doesn't know about the twins.

"Hey kid," she greets, as Lukka passes by.

The younger girl stops, looking up at her.

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah, don't worry," she assures, hesitating a moment before turning to go.

"Be careful," Hanna warns, after a moment, "Or should I say... may the Force be with you."

"You too," Lukka says, smiling faintly for a moment.

"It already was with me, and I still don't like it."

Amusement flashes across Lukka's expression, but it fades just as quickly as everyone continues to run around the hangar in the background. She hurries past, heading for her own ship.

From Hanna's position where she works on finishing last minute repairs on the Falcon with Chewie, she can overhear Lucan talking to the assembled pilots, Lukka included.

Chewie growls unhappily. "I know, Chewie," Hanna replies, "But we're almost ready to evacuate already."

They do finally get the ship in working condition, even as the battle outside is raging, but there's no way she's going to leave until she knows that the twins are safe. Lukka is still out there fighting, and Lucan is in the command center, which was just hit.

She runs into the room to see that, sure enough, he is still there. "Are you alright?" Hanna asks worriedly.

"Why are you still here?!" Lucan demands.

"I had to finish repairs. And you need to get out of here too," Hanna replies.

"I can't until I know everyone is going to be out of here."

The ground beneath them trembles again, and she knows it's going to be collapsing any minute now. "If you don't come now, we won't be leaving at all," Hanna warns. And she has no intention of leaving him behind.

Lucan pauses to get one final order over the comms, before he finally takes off after her and Chewie, back for the ship.

Everything is collapsing, and they narrowly manage to avoid it as they reach the Falcon, running up the ramp and into the ship.

Stormtroopers are already making their way into the hangar as Hanna and Chewie frantically fire up the engines and blast out, barely in the nick of time.

Well, that was a close one.

***

All Lukka knows on the spot is that she doesn't like this place very much. It reminds her far too much of what the swamp looked like when she got swapped like this in the first place, and she has no desire for something equally insane or worse – if that's even possible – to happen next.

Artoo beeps, sounding equally doubtful about being here.

"No, I don't know where any Jedi would be here. This place doesn't look remotely civilized." Maybe that's the point though, since he's hiding from the Empire. It would help if she had some idea where to start.

The Force feels stronger here than in some places – maybe it's because there's so much life here, she has no idea.

Artoo beeps.

"No, I don't think going into the wrong swamp could change your model." She tries to imagine bringing Artoo back to the base, spontaneously turned into a different droid type or maybe even sentient. No, just no. Yes, maybe there are things that could get even more insane than being gender swapped.

"Now I just need to find this Yoda, assuming he exists," she mutters, glancing around, "There's something familiar about this place. It feels like..."

"Feels like what?" a voice asks.

Lukka jumps, whirling around to see a small creature perched on a branch a short distance away. She instantly raises her blaster.

"Lower your weapon," the creature chides, "I mean you no harm."

Hesitantly, she lowers it, but she keeps it ready to pull out.

"Why are you here?" it asks, moving a little closer.

"I'm looking for someone," she answers, shortly.

"Looking? Found someone you have, I would say, hmm?" It laughs about nothing apparent.

"You aren't who I was looking for," she replies, unimpressed.

"Mm, help you I can."

"I don't think so. I'm looking for a great warrior."

"Wars not make one great," the creature retorts, scurrying forwards, over to her bag on the ground.

"What are you –"

It reaches into the bag and starts yanking things out, throwing them around.

"Hey!" Lukka protests, frustration spiking, "Stop that."

"How get you so big, on food like this?" the creature asks, as it continues to rummage around.

Lukka takes a deep breath, doing her best not to just scream at the stupid thing. Does it have no sense of manners whatsoever?! "Hey, be careful with that!" she exclaims irritably as it tosses more and more of her things around, before finally snatching up her lamp and giggling about literally nothing.

"If you don't mind," she says, doing her best not to just scream, "I would like that back."

"No!" the creature objects, "Mine! Or help you, I will not."

"I don't need help," she retorts. Certainly not this creature's. Artoo rolls forward, trying to pull it away.

"Mine!" the creature protests, snatching up its stick and whacking the droid.

Rude.

"Just let him have it," she groans, finally, "I'm looking for someone named Yoda. Do you know where he is?"

"Ah yes, come with me!" it insists, and scampers away.

"Watch the ship," Lukka advises before she takes off in pursuit, before she loses track of the creature and her lamp forever.

It doesn't take long for them to reach a tiny hut hidden in between the trees of the swamp, and the creature scurries inside. Lukka follows warily, half-crawling because the ceiling is far too low for a human. Seriously, this is ridiculous. She doesn't have time for this. She needs to get back to the fleet, but Ben told her to come here and find 'Yoda'. Maybe if he appears again or if she does find Yoda, they'll be able to tell her how to change back herself and her friends.

"How far from here is Yoda?" Lukka asks, trying to go for casual, as the creature scurries about, getting food for both of them to eat. She'd appreciate the offer more if not for the situation.

"Not far," the creature assures, "Patience, you must have. Find him soon, you will."

"You know him?" Lukka asks.

"Ah yes," the creature replies, "Wish to become a Jedi, do you? Why?"

How does it even know about Jedi, really? "Because my father was," she says.

"A powerful Jedi, he was," the creature agrees.

"You knew him?" she asks, warily. How is that possible?

"Yes, yes, knew him, I did," it agrees.

"How could you have, when you live in this ..." she trials off, trying to find the right word to describe what she thinks of the planet so far. "Mudhole."

"Mudhole?!" the creature protests, "My home this is!"

"I didn't mean to offend you, btut I'd really like to find Yoda right now. I'm in a bit of a hurry."

The creature scowls. "No patience, she has. Teach her, I cannot."

What?

"She can learn," comes a voice from nowhere. Ben.

"Much anger in her, like her father."

Wait, wait – no, someone tell her she has not been talking to Yoda this entire time! "You're –" Okay, this is probably one of the most embarrassing things that has happened to her as of late, but seriously, how was she supposed to know the maniac messing up her stuff was a Jedi Master?!

Yoda continues to express his complaints on why she isn't ready, but he finally grumpily decides that he will train her.

"I have one question," Lukka says finally, looking between him and Ben's ghost. She still doesn't understand how he's here.

"What?" Ben asks.

"I don't know how I ended up like this but so did two of my friends, and... is there anything you can do about it?"

"Walked into a Dark Side trap, you did," Yoda replies.

So, she had already figured out, though it still doesn't make sense to her how such a thing is even possible. "But can you do anything to change it?"

Ben sighs – because apparently Force ghosts can sigh? "I've never seen anything like this," he replies, "I don't understand what happened myself."

"I walked into a swamp, and I came out like this!"

"I saw," he replies, in a tone of complete exasperation, "But I don't know what can be done."

"Transformed, you cannot be," Yoda declares, "Unless another swamp of this nature, there is. And avoid these, you should. Dangerous, they are. Of the Dark Side, these places are."

Lukka groans quietly. It looks like they are stuck like this, unless they can find another swamp, which she personally really doubts would happen. Even if it exists, she doesn't know where she'd begin looking for it. Well, Hanna and Lucan definitely won't be happy to hear this.

And speaking of Lucan... "I have another question," Lukka adds. "How are Leia and I twins?" She's certain they know, or at least that Ben does. He watched over her for years, after all, and then Leia was mysteriously asking for his help, so...

Ben exchanges a look with Yoda. "After you were born, you were separated so that the Sith wouldn't find you," Ben replies, "For your own safety. Leia was adopted by the Organas, and I took you to your family on Tatooine."

That's... she doesn't know what to say. It makes sense, even if there's a part of her that's upset that they were separated, and that, more importantly, she was never told once they met. It makes sense but she's still upset.

She decides to drop the topic for now, though.

It's time to begin training.

***

Getting stuck in the middle of an asteroid field trying to do repairs on the Falcon was not Lucan's idea of how this evacuation was going to go, but at least they're still alive. And at least they were able to lose the Imperials on their tail because there's no way anyone followed them in here.

He tries to focus on the repairs but trying to re-engage the system doesn't seem to be working. Hanna appears at his side a moment later, reaching towards it. "I can handle it," Lucan insists.

"Hey, Your Worship, I'm only trying to help," she retorts.

"Do you really have to keep calling me that?" he grumbles.

"No, I suppose I don't," she smirks.

He groans. "Do you always have to be this difficult?" Their relationship is much like how it was before, but at the same time, it's also different in a way he can't quite explain. He feels more compelled to... protect her, almost, than he ever did before. And she acts a little less aggravating herself, which makes him... think about how he almost wishes things between them could go further, even if he still fears it – getting close to someone like that again, only to likely lose them in the end.

"I don't," Hanna retorts, "But you could be nicer too."

Okay. Maybe. And suddenly he doesn't know how to respond. He abruptly notices in that moment how close together they're standing, and it makes him think even more about what he wants. And he gets the feeling Hanna is thinking likewise. "Yes, I suppose I could be," Lucan replies, moving a little closer.

Hanna reaches over, taking his hand. He isn't really thinking when he finally closes the distance between them, kissing her. She returns it immediately.

"Sir!" Threepio calls suddenly from behind them, and Lucan jumps, pulling away.

"What?" Hanna yells back, sounding decidedly irritated.

"I've isolated the reverse power flux coupling," the droid reports.

Hanna hesitates for a moment, eyeing Lucan. "You... should go take care of it," he says, after a moment. He doesn't really know how to react to this, and he wants some time to think about it.

Hanna nods, turning and finally hurrying away to get back to work.

Well, that was definitely not how he was expecting the day to go.

***

"Well, this is interesting," Hanna muses as she looks over the nearby systems around them. They barely escaped the cave-turned-giant-space-snake, only to come out of the asteroid field right into a bunch of Star Destroyers. She's still minorly proud of herself in being able to fool them, though, by shutting down all the power. Now they just need somewhere safe to land and properly finish the repairs, since they can't go into lightspeed.

"What?" asks Lucan, warily.

"Lando."

"Lando system?" he queries, dubiously.

"Lando's not a system. He's a man. Lando Calrissian. Card player, gambler, a scoundrel – You'd like him." She still remembers the last time she was dealing with him, back when she and Qi'ra had parted ways, probably forever. Imaging seeing Qi'ra now, though, would be beyond weird.

And wait, this isn't good. Lando isn't going to recognize her. Or maybe that is good, she doesn't know. Well, this will have to work out, because she doesn't know where else they could go.

"Can we trust him?" Lucan presses, still cautious.

No, definitely not. And she has no idea if it's better or worse than he might not believe she was once Han.

With little more than a few small difficulties, they are allowed to land at the city. "Something isn't right," Lucan mutters as they stand, heading for the ramp.

"Don't get jittery," Hanna advises, "Lando and me go way back." Though she doesn't know why there's no one out here to greet them.

There's a few more moments of nothing, before the door opens and Lando strides out, immediately looking a little taken aback at the sight. "Chewbacca?" he asks, in surprise, "And here I would've expected you to still be with Han."

"That would be me," Hanna says smoothly, stepping forward.

He frowns and seems to lose his cool for the first time. "How is that possible?"

"Let's just say there was a little accident," she replies, "Do you really think someone else could have gotten the Falcon from me?"

"Well, you're welcome to come inside," he states, and Hanna gets the feeling that he's just... either doesn't believe it completely or isn't entirely sure how to react. "What are you here for?"

"Repairs. I could use some help."

"What have you done to my ship?" he demands.

"Hey, it's my ship now. I won it fair and square," she shoots back.

"If you're really Han, you have a lot of guts coming here after what you pulled back there," Lando huffs.

"It's good to see you too," she retaliates, grinning, "And I go by Hanna now."

"And who might you be?" Lando asks, looking past her to Lucan.

"Lucan," he answers, expression still guarded and wary.

Hanna finishes explaining the situation to Lando and he promises to have his people get to work on it, before inviting them inside. It's weird meeting people he used to know like this, but now that they're past the initial awkwardness, Lando seems to be taking it all in stride again.

She would appreciate it, though, if he would stop... Acting the way he always does around women. Like seriously.

***

This Jedi training is very different from what Ben was having her do, but Lukka tries to let herself focus and feel the Force flowing around her. A scene rapidly spirals in front of her eyes, of Hanna and Lucan, somewhere in a city of clouds. Pain. They're in pain. She can feel it.

She jerks and promptly loses control, tumbling headfirst onto the ground. Yoda falls to the ground a distance away with a startled yelp. "Control, you must learn control," Yoda scolds.

"I saw a city in the clouds," Lukka answers, shakily.

"Friends you have there."

"They were in pain," she whispers. She doesn't know what it means, but she does not have a good feeling about it at all.

"It is the future you see," Yoda replies.

"The future?!" She scrambles to her feet, dread pooling inside of her. "Will they die?"

"Difficult to see. Always in motion is the future."

That is not remotely comforting, and she can't just sit around waiting to find out. "I have to go find them," Lukka declares determinedly, turning away. She can't wait.

"Decide you must how to serve them best," Yoda objects, "If you leave now, help them you could. But you would destroy all for which they have fought and suffered."

Why? That doesn't make sense. But the warning coming from a former important member of the Jedi does make her pause and think. Yoda said that there's no guarantee that it's going to happen, but she can't shake the images from her mind. She doesn't know what to do, though. She doesn't know how she couldn't act while her friends could be in trouble.

She tries to focus on training for a little longer, but her worry is only mounting as the day continues to tick by. Finally, she gives up entirely. What's the use of learning to be a Jedi if she doesn't even use her abilities to help her friends when they need her the most?

"I have to go," Lukka declares, at last.

"You must complete your training," Yoda objects.

"I can't keep the vision out of my head. I have to help them," she replies stubbornly, turning away and going to gather up her things.

"You don't know that," another voice rings out. She looks up, to see Ben's Force ghost materializing.

"But Hanna and Lucan will die if I don't!"

"You don't know that. Even Yoda cannot see their fate."

"But I can feel it," she argues, "They're in trouble. I can help them. I can feel the Force –"

"But you cannot control it. This is a dangerous time for you, when you will be tempted by the Dark Side."

"Yes, yes, to Obi-Wan you listen," Yoda chides, "The cave. Remember your failure at the cave."

"I'll come back," Lukka says, climbing up the ladder of her fighter. She needs to go now, before they try to talk her down from this anymore. If she doesn't go, and something does happen to her brother and friends, she'll never be able to forgive herself for it. "I won't be gone long."

"It's you and your abilities the Emperor wants," Ben warns, "That is why your friends are made to suffer."

"That's why I have to go," she replies. All the more reason, in fact. She can't leave them to be hurt, because of her.

"Luke –" She decides not to comment that he just called her the wrong name. Probably because he still isn't used to this insanity. "I don't want to lose you to the Emperor the way I lost Vader."

"You won't. I'll be back," she repeats, settling into the fighter and closing it. She wouldn't betray the Jedi teachings for anything. She's certain of that.

***

"I don't trust him," Lucan says, still decidedly unhappy. He can't shake away the feeling nagging at him from the moment they landed, and he doesn't like it.

"Don't worry, we'll be out of here before you know it," Hanna assures unconvincingly.

"Am I interrupting anything?" Lando asks, breezing into the room.

"Not in particular," Hanna replies.

Lando holds out an arm towards her, and she gives him an unimpressed look. "You know, you truly belong in the clouds. Will you join me for a little refreshment?" Okay, maybe Lucan would like him a little more if he would stop trying to flirt with Hanna.

"Hey, I'm still Han, even if I don't look like it," she grumbles, and Lando drops his arm back to his side again.

"Of course," he agrees pleasantly, "This way."

Lando rambles about his out of the way operation as they go. "– But I've just made a deal that will keep the Empire out of here forever," he finishes as they stop outside the door.

The door slides open, and Lucan freezes in his tracks at the sight of Vader sitting at the head of the table. No, no. The Empire was here the whole time. No wonder he didn't have a good feeling about it at all. Fear claws at him, which rapidly turns into anger.

Hanna reacts in a flash, whipping out her blaster and shooting at Vader. He calmly deflects the shots aside, then rips the blaster away, tossing it onto the table. "We would be honored if you would join us." From behind him, a bounty hunter – Boba Fett, Lucan thinks he might remember hearing – steps into view. One of the people who was after Han.

"I had no choice. They arrived right before you did. I'm sorry," Lando says, as stormtroopers come in on either side.

This can't be happening. They're going to be captured, and Lucan knows what that will mean. It wouldn't be so bad if Vader wasn't here, because now all the memories of last time back on the Death Star are promptly resurfacing, even if he glares defiantly at the Imperials as the stormtroopers approach, putting them in binders and leading them away.

Lucan hates the endless silence of the cell he's in, but he'd much prefer to be left to it indefinitely the moment the door opens, and he sees who's there. Vader strides into the room, letting the door close behind him.

Lucan crosses his arms, glaring at the Sith. He doesn't know what he wants, and he doesn't care. Whatever it is, he won't get it.

"Who are you?" the Sith demands.

"What does it matter?" he scoffs.

"You bear much resemblance to the princess." Vader paces closer to him, "And the ship is the same. I would have expected her to be here."

"I'm sure you can figure it out," Lucan snaps.

The Sith stalks closer, towering over him. "I will get an answer whether you cooperate or not," he warns. "Where is the princess?"

Lucan glares back defiantly, refusing to show his flare of fear. He remembers far too well what happened last time he was trapped alone with Vader, and – Well, he has no desire to help him with anything, but saying this much shouldn't hurt. Maybe. "That would be me," he retorts, finally.

There's a pause of silence with nothing but the sound of his respirator and something dark and cold pokes at him for the briefest moment. "What?"

"I don't know. Something to do with the Force," he retaliates.

"What do you know of the Force?"

"Enough to know that it had something to do with the Dark Side," he retorts. "You're a Sith. I thought you'd know more about it."

"That is not how the Force works."

He shrugs. "Like I said, that's all I know."

The Sith finally turns away, striding out of his cell, only to return minutes later with a med-droid in tow. And even without being told, it only takes Lucan one second to figure out what he's planning to do. He wants to verify if he's really telling the truth, and – That means he might discover who his parents are and all he knows is that that will not be good even if he doesn't know why he ended up being adopted in the first place. There's no way he can let them go through with this, but it's not as if he can really resist or refuse anyway. And he doesn't have anywhere to run from the stupid med-droid except right into Vader which means... he'll just have to stay put and hope that they won't realize who he really is.

It's a futile hope, though. He knows that. The silence, other than the noise of the respirator that fills the room as they wait for the med-droid to finish its tests, is as agonizing as it is infuriating, and he doesn't know what he can even do. At least they won't know about Lukka – he hastily banishes the thought from mind. Sith can read thoughts, he's heard, and even if he can't protect himself, at least he can protect his sister.

"It appears that his DNA is an exact match-up to that of Princess Leia, except that he is now male," the droid reports, "But it appears that he is only 75% human."

Lucan's stomach promptly drops to the bottom of his boots. Here it goes. So much for hoping no one was going to find out.

"What?" Vader asks, confused.

And of course, the droid has to promptly go on to announce the rest of it, that his parents are Anakin Skywalker and Padme Amidala.

Several moments of tense silence fill the room again, and then, it feels like the temperature itself suddenly drops.

The Sith's helmet turns between him and the droid and the icy cold feeling in the air only seems to grow. The walls suddenly tremble and the med-droid crumples into a piece of crushed metal on the floor. Vader turns on his heel, disappearing out the door without another word.

Well.

That was not the reaction Lucan was expecting.

He doesn't even know what to make of it, but still doesn't think this is going to be good at all. Still, all he can do is sit here and wait for... the unknown.

***

Lucan has no idea how long it's been, though he thinks it's been quite a while when Vader comes back again. Does he really want to talk to him this much? Because if it was up to him, he'd never lay eyes on the Sith again.

Vader stops near the doorway and stands there for a long moment, and though Lucan has no interest whatsoever in talking to him, he finds himself wishing he would just say something already because staring at his expressionless mask is... more than a little unnerving.

"What do you want?" Lucan snaps finally.

"You were never told what happened to your father," Vader intones.

What? What has that got to do with it? Another surge of anger and pain rushes through him when he thinks about Alderaan – though he's fairly certain that's not the parent the Sith is referring to. "Yes, I do. He was murdered while you stood and watched," he snaps.

"Your... other one."

After finding out about being Lukka's twin, he's been thinking far too much about his birth parents and wondering what it would have been like to get to know them, to have been raised with his twin. "No, I don't, but I imagine it was probably similar."

His respirator cycles once before he replies. "I am your father."

What?! For a moment, he doesn't even know how to react. He's saying that – that he's Anakin? No, that's impossible. It is. "No," Lucan retorts, "You're lying." He has to be. It's the only explanation.

"I am not. Search your feelings. You know it to be true."

It feels true, though he can't say how he would know that. The Force? No, he must be sensing wrong, because this is impossible. He knew very little about Anakin, but people have always spoken very highly of him. And – and there's no way that Vader is his biological father. No. Anyone else, just not him. (Okay, Tarkin or the Emperor would be worse, but still.)

"No," he denies again, "That's impossible. Anakin Skywalker was a Jedi and hero of the Republic."

"He was weak. I destroyed him."

Huh? "If that's supposed to be a roundabout way of telling me you are lying, that you did kill him, I already guessed as much."

"I... went by that name. A long time ago," Vader replies, after several long moments.

Why does that feel like the truth? It can't be the truth. That doesn't make any sense. It's not – He can't be her – their – father. He can't be. Even if he was, that doesn't change anything. He's on the Empire's side, and... (But he can't deny that there's a very small part of him which wants to demand answers, wants to know how he could've joined the Empire, because this doesn't make any sense.)

And is he just trying to be as confusing as possible, or does he really have a serious case of disassociation or something from his past? Talking about it as though he isn't the person he used to be. Although... that much is obvious anyway, if any of the things he's heard about Anakin are true.

"Even if this was true, what difference does it make?" Lucan snaps, finally. It doesn't matter either way. It doesn't. It changes nothing.

"We do not need to be enemies," the Sith replies, and Lucan is wondering if he's been stuck in the cell so long he's startling to hallucinate, because what?

"I think it's a little late for that," he retorts steely.

"When your brother comes here –"

... brother? What – Oh, right. He's talking about Luke, evidently under the assumption that he's still a boy. Wait – how does he know that Luke was his child?!

Vader pauses, maybe seeing the momentary confusion much too obviously on his face. "Did Obi-Wan never tell you that you were twins?"

"We figured it out on our own," he retorts, mind frantically going back over everything the Sith just said. Why would he think Lukka would come here?! Does he know where she is?! No, he has to warn her, but – There's nothing he can do, not really.

"Join me and we can destroy the Emperor," he requests, and Lucan opts to ignore how there's a strange note of pleading in his voice. It seems too impossible.

Lucan looks at him like he just grew three heads, and maybe he did. (He already seems to have two...) "You think I would join you?"

"Is that not what you want? To destroy the Empire?"

He glares at him. "Yes. So what purpose would it serve to kill the Emperor and then have you take his place?" They'd be right back to where they started. He can't believe he's having this conversation, even. (And why does Vader seem to be acting totally different now that he knows Lucan's his son?)

"We can rule the galaxy together as father and son." Lucan just stares at him. He has no idea if he's completely lost his mind or if Vader has, or maybe both, because what?! "We can end this conflict and restore peace to the galaxy," he continues.

If that offer was genuine, there might be something to talk about, because it isn't as if Leia didn't work with former Imperials all the time. But it obviously isn't because... It just can't be. He was acting nothing like this literally one hour ago. Lucan doesn't know what the Sith is really up to – he still has some serious doubts about whether this is really Anakin – and he isn't stupid enough to fall for it. "And why would you suddenly turn on the Emperor when you've been working for him all this time?" he demands.

"It has always been my intention to turn on him, for that is the Sith way, but I am unable to do so alone."

That is... He doesn't know if he should believe it or not. But personal feelings aside, if someone that high up in the Empire truly wanted to help the Rebellion, it would be an enormous asset to them. Still, he doesn't know for certain that Vader is being genuine. Also, he only implied that he wanted to ally with him and Lukka; that doesn't say much for the rest of the Rebellion. "Why should I trust you?" Lucan asks, bluntly, "When you're holding me and my friends prisoner?"

"I captured you to lure Luke to me," Vader replies, "I did not know you were my child as well." It soundslike he truly means what he's saying, and that apparently, the fact that they're his children is actually... important to him. Lucan doesn't really know how to handle the situation, and he wishes there was someone he could discuss this with.

"When he arrives, I will... release your friends."

He sounds like he means it, and Lucan doesn't know what to do. No matter how he feels on the matter, if someone is willing to help them destroy the Empire... he can't just turn it down, but he doesn't know if Vader is being genuine or if he's up to something else – like leading the last trained Jedi into a trap. "Let me think about it," Lucan says, finally.

"Very well," Vader agrees, and finally leaves.

As soon as he's gone, Lucan settles onto the floor, letting the surge of emotions crash through him. He has no idea how to handle any of this, or what to even think about it.

Vader is his father.

And that's...

He'll always see Bail as his real father, but... that doesn't change this.

He has no idea how to feel about any of this or what to do, and he doesn't know how to handle it, or how to figure it out. Most situations are easy to improvise, but not this.

Lucan doesn't know if there's much other choice except agreeing to ally with Vader – or at least make a show of doing so. He's pretty sure none of them will escape if they don't, so in terms of safety, agreeing to work with him while planning to double cross him, if necessary, is probably the best. Maybe.

He'd agree if it was only his own fate involved, but Lukka... Vader seemed certain she was going to come, and he wouldn't be surprised if she did sense that something was happening to them and come.

Yes, this is becoming more and more tricky by the moment.

***

Lukka knows something isn't right the moment she lands her X-wing in the most out-of-sight place she can find on Bespin. There should at least be someone asking for a landing permit or something, but instead, nobody's around at all. Do they want her to land for some reason?

Whatever's going on, she must be on guard. Slipping out her blaster to use on a moment's notice, Lukka goes through a side entrance into the building, Artoo rolling along behind her. She has no idea where to even start looking for Hanna, Lucan, and Chewbacca but she reaches out with the Force, trying to follow its nudging on where to go.

Stormtroopers are everywhere, and she ducks back against the wall as a group of them pass before darting out of hiding and continuing forward. Wherever the others are, they're probably in a cell of some sort, so... That's probably what she needs to find first of all.

"Artoo, can you find if there's a detention level or anything here? Somewhere they might have locked them up?"

The droid beeps affirmatively, rolling to a nearby port and plugging in. Lukka backs against the wall, waiting.

Finding an answer is faster than she was expecting, thankfully. Artoo pulls up a map of the facility, showing her where the most likely place for them to be is. It won't be easy to get there, but she's had harder before. She just needs to move quickly before anyone realizes she's here.

Stormtroopers spot her before she gets far, but she hastily shoots them down, taking off again. Something prickles at the edge of her senses – something dark – as she moves deeper and deeper into the place, but she doesn't stop to investigate. Finally, she reaches the detention area where she can sense her twin. From what she can tell, he feels fine, except a little... Actually, she can't put a label on the turmoil of emotions she feels from him right now.

The people guarding right there are too taken by surprise to stop her, so she shoots her way past them, and sprints into the hall where they're being kept. She unlocks Lucan's door first – suddenly hit by how identical this feels to when they first met – stepping into the room.

"Lucan!" she exclaims, relief washing through her at the sight of her twin. At least he's okay.

"Lukka!" Lucan exclaims, "I was... afraid you would show up."

"Don't worry," she assures, "I'm here to rescue you, with a better plan than I had that first time."

Lucan cracks a smile for the briefest moment, before going serious again. "I need to tell you something."

Lukka raises an eyebrow. "Can't it wait until we're out of here? Someone's gonna notice something's wrong any minute now."

"We won't be able to," Lucan replies, "Vader's here."

She can't quite ignore the fear creeping through her at that. But she was prepared for this. She knew the risks and agreed to come anyway. "I can fight him," Lukka assures, "Or we can avoid him and –"

"No," Lucan objects, "This was a trap set up for you. I... he wanted you to come here. I don't know if it's genuine but he... made an offer to me."

Well, if this isn't odd. She frowns. "What?" If Lucan truly believes that they'll never escape and that having this conversation right here and now is more important than trying, maybe she should trust his judgment, but...

"I know this won't be easy for you to here, but he's... He was once Anakin Skywalker."

Lukka freezes. "W-what?!" she demands, after an incredulous moment, finally finding her voice, "But that's – that's impossible! He – Vader killed him. Ben told me."

"I didn't want to believe him either," Lucan answers, "But I think it's the truth. What do you sense?"

Slowly, hesitantly, she reaches out, for as much as she doesn't want to. It feels true, but it can't be, because all these years she's wanted to get to know her father, all these years she's looked up to him, and half the reason she wanted to be a Jedi in the first place was so she could be more like him. But apparently, he's still alive and a Sith?! And – but Ben said he was dead. Was he lying? Did he not know? None of this makes sense!

"Why would Vader want me here?" Lukka asks, desperately.

"He wants us to join him and destroy the Emperor. Or so he says," Lucan replies, lowering his voice a little, "He says he's always wanted to, but he isn't powerful enough to do it alone."

For a moment, Lukka just gapes at her. She hasn't had more than a few moments to process all for this, and... "Do you believe him?" There's been top level Imperials in the past who have joined the Rebellion, but she doesn't know what to think of this.

"I don't know, but..." He throws a brief glance around the room before looking back to Lukka, "I don't think we could realistically escape. And if this is true, I don't think it's an opportunity we should throw away."

Lukka frowns. What he's saying makes sense, and... (her father is alive, and she's always wished more than anything that she could meet him, but... he's also a Sith.) "Ben and Yoda didn't want me to come. They were afraid that I would lose myself to the Dark Side. I don't..." She doesn't know if this is trick by the Sith to get them to use Dark Side, or what. (He's also the father she's always wanted to meet, apparently, and –)

"I don't know about the Force side of this," Lucan concedes, "But what do you think we should do?"

"I don't know," Lukka argues, "Are we seriously talking about teaming up with Darth Vader?"

A look of mild amusement skitters across Lucan's face. "Yes, maybe we have both lost our minds. I don't trust him, and nor do I think it's a good idea, but if this could work in favor of the Rebellion..."

"You think we should do it?" Lukka cannot believe she is asking this.

"I think we stand a greater risk of losing more if we refuse and try to escape. Didn't getting in here seem a little too easy?"

"... yes." She can see his point. "So, now what?"

Lucan shrugs, looking uncertain. "Maybe we just walk out?"

"Are you... finished?" asks a voice from behind them, and Lukka whips around to see Vader standing in the doorway, because he somehow appeared there without her noticing. He was definitely waiting for her. Lucan was right about one thing. This was a trap that she walked right into, and they probably can't fight their way out of.

Lucan's expression instantly shifts into that princess-but-technically-prince-now face as he looks at him. "We have," he replies.

"Your decision?" he asks, and he sounds... Lukka can't put a label on it.

"We'll join you," Lucan replies, "But don't expect us to blindly trust you. And you have to release us and our friends before we discuss anything further."

The Sith inclines his helmet ever so slightly. "Very well."

***

Hanna is beginning to hate these closed walls more and more, and all she knows is that this is the last time she's trusting someone like Lando. She has no idea what the Empire is going to do to them, and... She can only imagine. And all this because Lando wanted to protect himself. She thinks the only thing that would let out her frustration and the hint of betrayal she's feeling is a fist fight. She never trusted Lando but selling them out to the Empire is a whole new level of betrayal.

She paces back and forth in her cell, her irritation only rising with each passing moment. So, the last thing she's expecting is for the door to suddenly open, and Lukka and Lucan to appear in the doorway.

"What's going on?" she demands, hurrying over to them. There aren't even any guards visible in the hallway. Did Lukka show up to rescue them?

"It's... a little complicated," Lucan offers.

"What do you mean?" she asks, dubiously.

"We might have made a deal with Vader?" Lukka answers, almost sheepishly.

"Wait – you did what?!" So, what, if she sounds a little hysterical right now?!

"Do not repeat this to anyone, other than Chewie," Lucan warns, "But he's... Well, he claims to be willing to help us against the Empire."

Hanna just stares at them. "And you believe him."

"I don't know," Lukka replies, "But the Force –"

"Don't even tell me that 'the Force' wants you to do this," Hanna retorts, "I got a hard time believing this 'Force' about anything after what it did to us!"

She'd like to have some words with Vader right now.

"I'm counting on him betraying us," Lucan says flatly, "I expect the same is true with him."

"So, you're planning to double play him and hope you can come out on top?" She's hating this plan more and more by the second.

"If it becomes necessary."

"And this means that you have to... what?"

"For now, Lucan and I will have to stay with him," Lukka replies, "And you can tell the Rebellion that we're working on getting a plan for them, but we can't tell them anything until things are further along."

"Okay, hang on!" Hanna exclaims, "You are planning to stay with Vader, and you're telling me to go and leave you behind." Yes, they have both completely lost their minds. There is no other explanation.

"There's nothing you can do here, except be collateral damage," Lucan insists.

She glares at him. "I'm not going without you."

"Hanna –" Lukka objects.

"No, don't you dare tell me you'll be fine," she snaps. "You're planning to work right alongside a top-level Imperial with crazy powers, and you're telling me to just leave you behind?!"

"Whether you're here or not, won't change anything," Lucan grumbles, and she glares at him.

"Okay, okay," Lukka interjects, holding up her hands, "If you really want to stay, I suppose you can. I just don't want you and Chewie to be in danger when it's completely unnecessary."

And that's supposed to make her want to leave them in danger all alone when she won't even have a way of talking to them? "So, what exactly are you doing?" Hanna asks.

***

It's been a couple days since they agreed to stay here, so Lukka has finally had some time to actually reflect on everything that happened. To start with, she is going to have some words with Ben the next time she sees him, because he lied to her about everything. And she has so many questions about what happened to her father – and for that matter what happened between both of them, because Ben said they were friends, and Vader didn't even blink about killing him – but she doesn't know how inclined Vader will be to answer anything.

She doesn't know what to think of him, either. He decided that they needed to start by getting some proper training, though Lukka is still a little wary about this, because she doesn't know what's borderline using the Dark Side, and what isn't, and Vader is... cranky that they refuse to learn the Dark Side.

He's their father, though, and... That doesn't excuse all the things she knows he's done, but it still matters to her. Maybe far more than it even should, but she doesn't feel guilty about it. And she can tell that the fact that they're his children really does matter to Vader, too.

"Why did you kill Ben?" Lukka finds herself asking. She needs to know this.

"He was a Jedi. He's a traitor."

"He was your friend!"

Lukka takes a step back from the sudden surge of anger from Vader. "Some friend he was," he snarls.

Okay... "What happened? He spoke quite highly of you."

"Did he?" Vader asks. "Did he also mention that it is because of him I am... like this?"

"What?" Lukka breathes, faintly. That's impossible. It shouldn't be. How could... What happened? She doesn't want to know, but suddenly, she thinks she may have misjudged him in a few places. There were already so many things Ben hid from her, lied to her about, and now this? "– how?" She doesn't even know what she's asking, hardly even sure what to say in response to that. She doesn't know the extent of Vader's condition, but she definitely knows all of his limbs are mechanical.

"We fought," the Sith answers, shortly.

She'd figured, but... She doesn't understand. Ben seemed to genuinely care about Anakin, or at least he acted like it. How could he...? "I don't..." She trails off, uncertain what to say. She doesn't know what happened between the two, but... Maybe she can't exactly blame Vader for killing him, after all.

"I do not wish to speak of this anymore."

Somehow, that makes her even more mind-blown, because it's the first, real, true indication of his humanity that she's seen. It's hard to look at someone like him and see a person inside, but now that she knows, she can't ignore it. Somehow, Lukka thinks beneath all her anger and pain associated with Vader, maybe she's willing to try. She's spent so many years wanting a father, after all. How could she turn it down now that she has the chance? (And she thinks, even if it's a little different, Lucan feels the same way.)

Chapter Text

The First Order is finally gone, and it's still taking Finn a long time to fully process the implications. Everything in his entire life that he remembers has revolved around that, whether fighting for or against it.

He's still constantly working together with Poe, Rey, Rose, and Chewbacca on missions, helping to clean up the final remnants of the Empire, but the galaxy is free. He's free. He won't have to fear losing Rey or Poe or Rose anymore. It's a dream come true – beyond his wildest dreams.

"There's something wrong with that swamp," Rey's voice breaks through his thoughts, snapping him to present.

Poe gives her an odd look. "It looks perfectly normal to me."

Something nags at Finn, somewhere deep inside of him. It's not quite danger, but it's a distinct warning – don't go any closer. "I can feel it too!" he exclaims, a hint of eagerness in his voice. It's the Force, Rey told him when she tried to start training him with it. They haven't gotten far, and he thinks his progress is pathetically dismal, but at least he can use it for something.

"Whatever's in there, we want to avoid it," Rey replies firmly.

BB-8 beeps inquisitively, rolling back a little.

"Come on, whatever it is, we can handle it," Poe retorts, starting forwards, "It's the fastest way there."

"Poe, wait!" Finn protests, "We can go around!"

"No time." He walks forwards right into it, and something curls in the Force, dangerously, warningly.

"Poe!" Finn sprints after him, fear spiking. What was he just thinking about not having to worry about losing his friends anymore?!

"Wait!" Rey yells after them, and he can hear her splashing in the swampy water behind them, as the Force coils around them, warningly. They need to go back, but if he can't talk Poe out of this –

Anything could be about to happen! Something is shifting, changing, twisting around them, and it's the last thing he registers before he suddenly blacks out.

***

Poe knows instantly that something is very wrong. He feels... weird, and he can't quite place how. He's lying on his back somewhere, his clothes feel strangely loose, and – How did he get here?! They were just going through that swamp, and – What happened?!

He jolts upright with a start, urgently scanning his surroundings, and stopping to gape at the two suspiciously familiar people lying right near him.

A dark-skinned girl with short black hair, and a boy with slightly longer brown hair. The girl's clothes look exactly like Finn's, just much too big now, and the boy's clothes look like Rey's but way too embarrassingly small.

"What?" he blurts, then nearly chokes at the very strange voice that comes out of his mouth. He looks down, heart suddenly hammering wildly as he sees – he's –

He doesn't look like a "he" anymore.

He looks... like a girl too.

"What?" Rey echoes, sounding equally confused – and male. She – he instantly stills at the sound of his own voice, looking between the other two with wide eyes.

"Rey?" Finn asks, with steadily growing horror and confusion.

"What?!" Poe demands again, and BB-8 rolls closer, furiously beeping. He's saying that they were all suddenly transported out here, and their models were swapped. 'Models'. Well, yes, that's a pretty accurate description seeing that they all just got gender swapped. By a swamp.

He – She – what. This is insane. It's –

"I did warn you against going into that swamp," Rey grumbles, shifting uncomfortably in his clothes.

Yes, she had, and – "This doesn't make any sense," Poe argues, "How could a swamp do this?"

"I don't know," he says, "But it did."

"Then maybe we should go back into the swamp, and it'll undo this?" Finn offers, hopefully.

"Or it might make it worse," Rey points out.

"What would be worse?" Poe counters. She wishes she could stop talking. The voice coming out of her mouth sounds so maddeningly wrong, it's beyond disturbing. And she can say the same for the other two. "We all sound terrible!"

"I don't know." Rey climbs to his feet unsteadily, and Poe follows suit. Her drastically different height feels ridiculous, and she has no idea how she's ever supposed to get used to it. Hopefully she won't have to.

"Should we find out?" Finn asks, suddenly sounding worried. It keeps taking Poe an irritating moment to figure out who's talking, which... ugh.

"If it was really the swamp, it should undo it," Poe says, more optimistically than she actually feels. This whole situation is a million kinds of weird, and she's never had a problem dealing with anything before, but this, she doesn't know how to handle. She doesn't really feel that different beyond the obvious physical changes, but it's still...

She heads forwards back for the swamp, and the other two follow.

"It feels... different," Finn frowns, as they cautiously step into the water. Nothing happens.

"Whatever was here before changed," Rey agrees.

They better not be saying what she thinks they are. "Are you saying this can't be changed?!" Poe demands, her worry abruptly skyrocketing into near panic. Everything was just perfectly normal, and then, this happened, and – there has to be a way they can undo it!

"Not here," he replies, sounding no happier, "It was... something with the Force. I've never even heard of anything like it."

"The Force did this?!"

"Someone did something to this swamp with this Force," he corrects.

"Then can't you undo it?"

"We don't even know what they did," Finn points out.

Poe groans. No, this cannot be happening. Seriously. But they're still on a mission, and they can't fail it just because of some strange gender change thing. Maybe they can have it looked at when they get back to base – although that's going to be more than a little embarrassing to even try explaining – but for now, they need to focus. "Fine. We still have a mission to complete. But... maybe we should change clothes first."

They very awkwardly adjust and swap a few of their clothes, making them at least somewhat wearable, before they head off to finish the mission.

***

Somehow, Finn seems the least bothered by what happened – although because of how she was raised, the way she interacts with people has always been a little... different. Beyond the weird personal changes, she probably isn't that bothered with what anyone will think. Just plain weirded out.

Not that Poe or Rey are much concerned for other people's opinions either, but this is ridiculous. She cannot be stuck as a girl forever! It's – it's too weird.

BB-8 rolls off the ship first, beeping, when they land back at the base. They won't be staying here for too much longer, but Poe will think about what that means when the time comes. Right now, she has a lot more pressing concerns. "Who are you?" Chewie growls, stepping closer and sniffing the air.

"Rose, Chewie! You wouldn't believe what happened," Finn exclaims, stopping at the bottom of the ramp.

"We underwent a 'model change' as BB-8 put it," Poe offers dryly.

"By stumbling into a swamp." There's a tiny amount of amusement in Rey's voice now.

Rose looks between the three of them, looking steadily more and more mind-blown. Chewie sniffs the air again.

"Are you saying that you're Finn?" Rose asks, almost skeptically, staring at Finn, and she nods.

"They smell almost the same," Chewie offers. Smell. Right. Okay. Well, at least he can identify them like that. Poe can't imagine what it would be like to memorize the scents of people.

Chewie looks between them again, and then all at once, he starts laughing. It's somehow cute, with how big and furry he is. Even if this is totally not funny. So why does she feel a sudden swell of amusement steadily rising?

"Hey, it isn't that funny!" Rey protests, but promptly bursts out laughing too.

Poe can't help but start to crack up too – it's more than a little contagious. And really, either she can stay annoyed, or she can laugh at the utter ridiculousness of it all.

"Are we going to do something about names?" Rey asks, once everyone finally stops laughing. It honestly makes Poe feel a little better about all this madness.

"What about names?" she asks.

"Your names sound... you know," he says, shrugging, "I'll keep mine. It's gender neutral anyway, but..."

Poe exchanges a look with Finn. "I'm staying with mine," Finn declares, firmly, "It's the only name I've ever known."

"I'll stick with mine too," Poe decides, "And really, why is that your most pressing concern right now? We need to find a way to undo this!"

"How did this happen?" Rose demands, finally finding her voice again.

"Something with the Force I don't understand yet," Rey replies, "Maybe the Force ghosts might have an answer?"

"Then try talking to them," Poe advises.

"I did. They didn't answer. But I can check the Jedi texts I have later."

"I don't understand," Rose says, slowly.

"No one does," Finn offers.

"This isn't permanent, is it?" Rose asks, slowly looking them up and down, probably still trying to comprehend how they can be them. Poe can relate.

"We'll find out," Poe replies, internally grimacing at the very thought. She can't imagine staying like this forever. It's just... it feels wrong, and she can't even put into words how. "Meanwhile, it's a good thing we have Chewie here to vouch that we're really the same people."

***

This was absolutely not how Finn thought they would be spending the next Life Day after the First Order was gone. She doesn't think randomly being a girl really changed much about her, except that she feels even more inclined to be around her friends all the time and constantly worry about them – although that may be true anyway, given the circumstances. (There are things they need to do eventually, things that won't be together, and she'd much prefer not to think about when that time will come.)

It's just the change in size and well... a few other things that change everything about her. And having to get a bunch of new clothes, although mostly, she and Poe just borrowed what Rey and Rose had, for now.

Learning to re-use a blaster isn't all that difficult, she just has to take into account her new position and different size. It's not something she's nearly fully accustomed to yet.

Maybe it would be easier, though, if she wasn't feeling so sick right now. It would be a million times less weird if she wasn't pretty sure it has a very serious connection with...

Well, girl things. And for some inexplicable reason, she's also feeling very unusually snappish, so she finally settles into a minorly comfortable corner somewhere and just sits there.

"Finn?" Rey asks.

She looks up to see him stepping into the room. "What?"

"Lightsaber practice this afternoon, remember?"

Right. No, it totally slipped her mind, in the face of dealing with... this. Which is ridiculous, because it's been drilled into her head from the time she was little, to always be punctual for things. "Can we do it later?" she groans.

"Are you alright?" he asks, frowning.

No, and it's beyond weird. Actually, it's almost close to embarrassing to talk about, but it's not as if Rey didn't used to be a girl not long ago, too. "No," she says, flatly, "Is this... normal?"

A look of understanding flashes across his face instantly. "Oh. That's what's wrong. Yeah – you can just skip this afternoon, then."

"How do you deal with it?" she asks, grumpily, shifting her position. Nothing seems to relieve it.

"Tolerate it, knowing it will end," he offers, though there's a distinct note of sympathy there. "Staying still usually helps, at least for me. Or laying down."

"What about laying down?" Poe asks, breezing into the room.

"Nothing to worry about," Finn assures, "We've all dealt with far worse." Not that that ever makes pain pleasant. But she's used to tolerating it.

"What? You're feeling sick too? Are you sure it wasn't something we ate?" Poe asks dubiously.

"I should think you'd be able to tell the difference," Rey says, dryly – though the conversation seems to be making him feel unbearably awkward too.

Poe shrugs, though Finn notices that she's moving a little... abnormally, for some reason. "It's not a big deal. How's blaster practice?"

"Could be better. I'm still adjusting to my new height," Finn replies.

"I'm doing the same with an X-Wing. I bet that's easier though," Poe responds, and then suddenly swallows hard, laying a hand on the wall.

"Are you sure it's nothing?" Rey asks, eyeing her.

"Yes."

Thinking about something else other than the awkwardness should probably help. "Have you found a way to undo this?" Finn asks.

Rey shakes his head. "None of the Jedi texts say anything about the Dark Side being able to do that. It must be something from long ago... or maybe it's very recent."

"What's even the point?" Finn asks. Why would someone even do that?!

"A prank?" Poe asks, and suddenly, she even sounds green, "A –" She chokes on nothing apparent, then heaves and starts throwing up all over the floor.

Okay. So much for being fine. Not that Finn or Rey is nasty enough to comment on it.

Though Rey produces a bucket out of nowhere – probably calling it to him with the Force – to assist.

"This is insane," Poe whines as she joins Finn on the floor, and Rey offers to deal with the... mess.

"It's normal life," he says, with far too much cheer.

"This happens to you every month?"

"You learn the best ways to avoid... you know, after a while. And running around pretending to be okay won't make it stop."

"I have work to be doing! Are you sure you don't want to stay a boy once you can undo us?!"

Rey snorts. "It's not that bad. Not when you're used to it."

"Are you sure you'll find a way to undo it?" Finn queries, trying and failing to shift to a more comfortable position.

"Hopefully," Rey replies, "If there's anything urgent you needed to take care of, I can handle it."

"Thank you," she says, gratefully. Not that she much likes the idea of sitting her doing nothing, but...

"How long does this last?" Poe groans.

"Depends," Rey replies, "Hours usually, but sometimes days, depending on the person."

They look at each other, and both groan this time.

Finn just really, really hopes both of them feel better before Life Day.

***

Nothing. Nothing. Nothing. Rey sets down the Jedi text he's reading with a quiet huff.

"Anything?" Finn asks, appearing next to him. He doesn't think he'll ever get used to the very strange height difference between them now, or the sound of their own voices.

"No." He stands. "Perhaps we should get back to training." He still doesn't know if he has any idea what he's doing. Luke and Leia only trained him for so long, and now, he's trying to pass all of that on to another student. And both of the last two Jedi Orders fell. How does he know his own won't also?

He passes Finn his lightsaber, activating the training remote and standing back to watch.

She's relearning how to move in her body right now, and in some ways, it works to learn to trust the Force more than oneself. Maybe.

Rey doesn't know if that's really how it works. He practiced with lightsabers a few times himself, and it's a little tricky to get used to doing totally different movements.

Also, with Ben gone, Rey never realized until now how much sheer power from the Force he drew off of Ben because of their Force dyad. It's changed, having that gone. Everything is strange now.

Not in a bad way, but it's different. And he'd very much like to go back to being a girl. Seriously.

"Just concentrate," he instructs, as Finn yelps when the remote zaps him again. "Feel the remote."

"All I can feel is that – Ow!"

"I know the Force is strong with you. Just remember, a Jedi must –"

"Let go," she finishes, and then does exactly the opposite. She takes off swinging for the remote, nearly hitting the walls as she runs around the room.

What is he doing wrong?! He thought he could teach someone else the same way he was taught, but it doesn't seem to be working! "No, that's not letting go!" he protests, right as Finn slashes the remote in half.

She pulls off the training helmet she's wearing, instantly looking disappointed at Rey's frown. He doesn't know what's wrong here. He's doing everything he thought he needed to – everything the books say, but it doesn't seem like it's working.

"Maybe I'm just not ready to become a Jedi," Finn offers unhappily.

Maybe. Maybe not. Perhaps they need to try something else. He takes the lightsaber from her, and before he can get out another word, Poe bursts into the room, followed by Rose and the droids.

"Lightsabers down, you two!" she calls cheerfully, "We've got a Life Day party to set up. Chewie's whole family is coming and everything needs to be ready."

The Wookie growls eagerly from the doorway.

Normally, Rey might be enthusiastic at this – well, he is – but he's more than a little distracted and frustrated right now. He can't find a way to undo this insanity, and he can't train Finn as a Jedi either, and nothing is giving him any answers.

He slips from the room, leaving the others to discuss the details, as he looks through the piles of books for something that might help.

***

Poe really wishes they didn't have to spend Life Day still swapped, but they're going to make the most of it. "Alright everyone," she calls as she scrambles around the hold, "Chewie's family is on their way. We got a lotta work and not a lotta time."

"Look what I found!" Rey exclaims, appearing in the doorway, holding a book.

"Tip-yip recipe?" Poe asks hopefully. That's what they sent Rey to search for, but Poe hasn't seen him in a while.

"In the Temple on Korduku, only on Life Day but once a year, with a key to the galaxy's past, a Jedi's future becomes clear." Rey reads off.

"So... not a tip-yip recipe."

Chewbacca growls in confusion.

"Yeah, what does that mean?" Finn agrees.

"It means I think I need to go to Korduku. To help me. You. Us. With your training. And maybe I can find an answer there on how to change us back."

Poe perks up instantly. "You really think that would work?"

"I don't know. The only way to find out is if I go now."

Wait –

"Now?" Rose objects.

"You can't leave now," Chewie argues.

"But Life Day is today. I can't wait. I can't lose this chance."

He has a point, but Poe is not the happiest about this. "Who's going to make the tip-yip if you're gone?"

"I'm sure one of you can do it!" he offers, hopefully.

"Life Day is about family. You can't miss this, Rey," Finn argues.

"I'll be back before the party. I promise," he replies before heading off.

Fine. They'll have to manage without. And if they're lucky, maybe they'll have a way to get back to normal once this is over. She's suddenly more than a little excited again.

"I have a plan," Poe announces, cheerfully, "We can make this the best Life Day ever. You handle the decorating. I'll make the tip-yip."

She's not very good at cooking, but she should be able to figure this out. It can't be that hard.

Although... maybe it could be going a lot better.

But Poe can lead pilots into to battle, so she can definitely figure out a way to make this recipe work, even if it isn't right now.

"Poe!" Finn yells, above her coughing thanks to the smoke from the burning food.

"What?!"

"I thought you were cooking," Rose accuses, coming to a stop behind them as Artoo sprays out the fire before it can start spreading.

"I was! And I had everything under control. Nothing to worry about. Did you finish the decorating?"

Finn and Rose share a look, sighing.

"I'll assume that's a no. Come on! No time to lose."

***

The planet is freezing, snow covering the ground and the towering rock structures, as Rey heads for the one suspiciously building-shaped. The sky here is beautiful too, covered in swirls of colors, but he doesn't have time to stop and appreciate the beauty right now. He needs to find answers, while there's still time.

It's a Force-nexus of some kind but looking around the rocky interior walls he doesn't see anything. Finally, he closes his eyes, reaching out with the Force. He can feel something shifting, and then, something flies to his hands.

The vaguely cone-shaped object sparkles a mixture of blue and green in his hands. He turns it over, consideringly. "This must be the key, but what does it open?"

BB-8 beeps suddenly, loudly.

"What?" Rey turns around, to see brilliant bluish-white energy, pulsing in a circle – the center of which is gaping black nothingness. "What's that?"

He moves closer, cautiously. It looks like a Force gateway to – the force of it is sucking him in, and he lets it.

The next thing he knows, he's falling, then hits something wet and cold, water splashing around him. Rey hastily pushes himself up, scanning his surroundings. Towering forests and vines surround him on all sides, and –

"Now the rock. Concentrate," a male voice instructs.

He jumps, spinning around to see a very familiar boy standing on his hands a short distance away, with another very familiar tiny green creature perched on top of his feet. Artoo is right next to them.

That's –

Luke!

They really are in the past! Like way in the past, because Luke can't be much over twenty. This must be Dagobah then. Luke told him that Yoda trained him briefly there.

Another swamp. Rey's had a few too many odd experiences with them as of late, unless there's some way to undo it here. It's not likely, but...

Rey darts closer, watching. They're a master and apprentice, and maybe he could learn something, but he doesn't see what. The only real difference in their training is that Luke seems to be succeeding where Finn isn't.

"Concentrate –" Yoda starts to chide again, but Luke loses his balance, landing flat on his face, throwing off the Jedi Master in the process.

Rey tries to stifle a laugh, but the sound escapes anyway.

Artoo beeps.

Luke pushes himself up, scowling. "What was that?" he agrees, "I... heard something."

Oh. Oops. Should he leave right now, or –

He ducks back behind the tree trunk, but not before Yoda spots him. Great.

That wasn't supposed to happen. It won't break time, will it?! He doesn't have a second longer to ponder it, when the other two circle towards him.

"Who are you?" Luke demands.

"I'm... uhh – traveling through time?" Rey offers sheepishly, holding up the key. If it's going to break the universe, just being blunt won't do it anymore, will it?

"What?!"

"Hmm," Yoda murmurs, "Telling the truth, you are. Dangerous, walking through time can be."

"I'm not... putting anything in danger being here, am I?" he asks, eyes widening. He wanted to make things right, not destroy the universe all over again.

"Not yet, but go, you must."

Right. Okay. If that's what Yoda says. But wait –

Rey lifts the key, opening a portal. "One quick question!" he calls, pausing, "Do you know a way to... like – for someone to use the Dark Side to change someone's gender?!"

"What?!" Luke demands again, incredulously.

"A pathway to many unnatural abilities, the Dark Side is," Yoda replies.

Well, that answers nothing. Like at all. "How can I reverse it?!"

"Mmm, reversed not all changes can be."

That's... Wait, there has to be a way to undo this, doesn't there? Maybe he can find an answer somewhere else, he doesn't know. He needs to go, so he jumps through the portal, landing on the floor in the cave structure.

He didn't get any answers, but the strange thrill of it all is still clinging to him. "Come on, let's try somewhere else," he urges, opening another doorway and jumping through.

To find himself... under a table?!

He can see two pairs of boots and what look like Jedi robes, but...

"Is it their nature to make us wait this long?" complains a voice, and he sounds familiar. Rey's heard that before, from holos of the Clone Wars – something Finn is little obsessed with.

Obi-Wan.

He sounds far younger, but Rey still recognizes the voice. Wait is this Obi-Wan and his Jedi Master?!

"No, I sense an unusual amount of fear for something as trivial as a trade dispute," the other man replies.

Rey hears movement, and a protocol droid walks in, right as a far-off explosion suddenly rings out. The Jedi leap to their feet, igniting their lightsabers.

Rey peaks out from under the table, cautiously. Obi-Wan has a padawan braid, and it looks beyond weird seeing him so young. If he didn't know better, he'd have no idea who he was.

But why is he here? What's he supposed to learn? He sees how Obi-Wan and his master are interacting, and maybe by watching he'll figure something out about training Finn! Or about how to undo this – if there's a way. That part he's less certain he'll find an answer to.

There's another explosion right near the doorway, and a cloud suddenly starts filling the room.

"Gas!" the Jedi Master warns.

Well. Time to get out.

Rey hastily opens the portal again, jumping through, this time finding himself... somewhere else.

He's outside somewhere, he doesn't know where, but immediately spots two familiar figures. It's a somewhat older version of Obi-Wan, and... Anakin Skywalker?! All Rey can do for a moment is gape. They're – This time travel is so cool!

He doesn't know when this is, but Anakin looks somewhere in his later teens, maybe.

"You need to stay focused, Anakin," Obi-Wan says, irritably.

"I am focused, Master," Anakin objects, annoyed.

Obi-Wan ignores his objection. "Follow my example and be mindful. Jedi must have complete awareness of their surroundings at all times."

Apparently, he's too busy lecturing about it to notice Anakin mouthing nonsense and pointing at him behind his back.

But really, Rey can't believe this! He can't believe he's seeing all this for real, traveling through time. He doesn't have answers yet, but –

Lightsabers activate simultaneously, and he tries to jump back into his hiding spot, but well... So much for that. "Who are you?" Anakin demands.

"Um – I need to know how Jedi train their students!" he blurts frantically.

Both of them exchange an incredulous glance with each other. "Who are you?" Obi-Wan demands again.

"Time traveler! Do you know anything about changing genders with the Force?

They start towards him, and he spins the key instantly, opening a portal and jumping through. Alright, okay, if he's going to get an answer on anything he'll have to stay and explain, and Yoda told him doing that wasn't safe.

When it opens again, he's – where is this?! The Force is so light it's practically breathtaking. He's standing in a towering hallway but concealed behind an enormous column. From outside the nearby window, he can see part of the building, and is this... He looks around, eyes wide.

The Imperial palace?!

The former Jedi Temple but when it was still the Temple?!

BB-8 beeps impatiently.

"I know, I know," Rey whispers, "We'll be going home soon. I just want to see at least one more pair."

If anything has answers, it must be here. And then, he promptly spots two figures walking down the hall. One of them is a slightly older version of Anakin, and the other is... a young Togruta.

Ahsoka Tano.

This is so cool! He can't believe he's really in the past! It's too bad Finn couldn't have come with him. "Are you ready, Snips?" he hears Anakin asking lightly.

"Of course, I am," she insists, as they step into some room along the hall.

Rey reaches out with the Force, risking stopping the doors just barely ajar as the other two disappear inside. He throws a quick glance around the hall before darting over, peaking through the tiny crack.

"Remember to use both your lightsabers," Anakin instructs, as the two ignite their blades.

Ahsoka moves forwards first, blades clashing against Anakin's.

They move so comfortably around each other, and it doesn't seem challenging for them to have mastered the master-apprentice thing. So, what is it that Rey's doing wrong with Finn?! Why – He doesn't get past that before he hears someone coming.

Time to get out. He opens another portal, jumping through, right as Master Yoda walks around the corner again.

BB-8 beeps grumpily.

"Just one last one!" he insists, desperately. This is amazing, and he can't pass up on at least one last chance to go through time like this. "We'll be back in time for the party, I promise!"

But... the first thing that hits him when he lands on the floor of a dark room somewhere is the sheer intensity of the Dark Side. It feels –

There's a throne at the front of the room, with a dark hooded figure seated in it, and... a very familiar cyborg standing in front of him. Maybe Rey spent most of his life on Jakku, but some things everyone knows.

That's Vader.

Which means the other person must be the Emperor.

What?!

No, he wanted to see a Jedi master and apprentice, not Sith!

"I sense..." Sidious starts to say, turning.

Oh no. Time to get out. Rey hastily reopens the portal, running through without looking back.

BB-8 beeps.

"You were right," he pants, "We should go home. Can you imagine if those two had seen us? That would have been –"

The Force swells with sudden darkness, the trademark sound of a respirator echoing through the room. Rey whips around, breath freezing in his throat at the sight in front of him. No, no, no – This was never supposed to happen!

"– Not good," Rey finishes lamely. It's a severe understatement in the face of what's currently happening.

Vader ignites his lightsaber, and the Force suddenly coils around the key, yanking it from Rey's hand. It flies to the Sith's instead.

"Give that back!" he yells, knowing it's useless, igniting his own gold blade and running at the Sith.

Vader casually flicks a hand, throwing him across the room again. The power that radiates off of him is so much stronger than anything Rey's dealt with before, except maybe the Emperor. But that had been... he was so out of it while fighting him, while the Force-ghosts fought the Emperor through him, he doesn't even remember most of it now. And not even Ben's level of power was anything like this.

A rock dislodges from the Temple wall, and he frantically slashes at it with his lightsaber, cutting it into two, only for more rocks to start hitting him. Fine.

He reaches out with the Force, trying to fight it off, throwing the last of them aside – before he reaches for the key, trying to rip it away. Vader's hold on it is too tight, but it starts spinning wildly, and another portal opens.

The key rips itself free of both their grips, flying through the gaping hole. Rey races after, leaping through the opening. The air is freezing as he hits the snow-covered ground, but he instantly scrambles to his feet as Vader steps through the portal after.

He has to stop him from getting to the key somehow, or – Rey swings up his blade to block the Sith's, struck suddenly by how much he towers over him. The armor is designed for intimidation, and he can't deny the icy fear clawing at him, totally unrelated to the freezing air.

The Sith is also ridiculously strong, and Rey is pretty sure his wrists would have snapped if he tried holding that saberlock a second longer. He skids a few feet back, dodging as Vader comes at him again. He's so much stronger and faster than Ben ever was, and –

This is bad. If he can barely keep up with him, how is he going to get the key and get away from Vader?! For that matter, how is he supposed to send him back to his own time?!

A Force-wave slams into him, throwing him to the ground, and he rolls out of the way purely on instinct as the red lightsaber slashes through the ground next to him.

The ground suddenly trembles violently, an explosion ripping through the wall on the other side of the room, and... another Vader walks in?! Followed by a group of stormtroopers.

Apparently, the day can still get worse.

Rey scrambles away from them, inching as discreetly as he can towards the key.

All the stormtroopers stop and stare.

He doesn't bother to stop and listen to what the Vaders are saying to each other, or as they start fighting for no apparent reason, instead finally reaching the key.

"Destroy him!" both Vaders order at once, that very moment, and all the stormtroopers open fire.

Great.

Rey whips out his lightsaber, deflecting the blasts away as fast as he can, right as another portal forms, the key falling through again. He runs forwards, leaping afterwards.

And of course, Vader follows. Rey has no idea how many times they fall through the portal, before they finally crash face first on the ground back at the Temple on Korduku.

Rey hastily starts pushing himself up, breathing hard, but somehow Vader is on his feet first – he has no idea how that move managed to look intimidating – throwing BB-8 across the room with the Force, and ripping the key away.

"BB-8!" he yells, fear flaring through him. The droid was one of the first friends Rey has ever had. He can't be destroyed!

And Vader is already opening a portal on the other side of the room. No. He can't let a Sith get ahold of a device like that! The entire universe could be destroyed, it could –

He runs forwards, heart pounding, trying to leap through the opening, but misses completely and lands unceremoniously on the floor – all alone in an empty room.

No, no. The device is gone. And... there's nothing he can do about it now. What has he done?! Why did he ever think walking through time like that was a good idea?!

First things first, maybe he can try fixing BB-8. Rey crosses the room, collecting the pieces of the droid and getting to work, trying to fix it. He can hardly focus, past his fear and despair, because if he hadn't come here, none of this insanity would have happened. And now, Vader and Sidious have something to travel through time, and who knows what that's going to mean? He should never have done that. It could break reality, and that could destroy the entire galaxy.

Completely, this time. Even being under Sidious's control would have been better. At least some people would have survived.

Something shifts in the Force suddenly, and he looks up to see –

"I'm seeing things," Rey says miserably, looking away.

"Seeing things, you are not," Yoda argues.

Wait – "I... I don't believe it! You're really here?!"

"With all you've seen today, so impossible it is to believe, hmm?"

"Master Yoda, I failed completely."

"So sure, are you?"

"Failed to teach Finn. Failed to find an answer for how to fix this." He waves down at himself. "Failed to stop Darth Vader. Failed to find a way out of here. So yes, I think that's failure!"

"All teachers fail," Yoda replies, "Saw my failure with young Skywalker on Dagobah, you did."

"That's different."

"No, no different. From failure, you can learn."

"To teach a student, have a connection, you must. Students they are... but also friends." It makes sense, he supposes. Maybe he can try thinking about it a little more later, when the universe isn't about to collapse.

"The Key is gone," Rey objects, "I don't know any other way to go back and stop them from destroying the timeline."

"Told you all that which you need to know, I have," Yoda insists, "The power for this, you have." He takes a few steps away from her.

"Wait! What does that mean?!"

Yoda fades out instead of answering. Great. Still no answers, and definitely not for the second biggest problem. Well, that can wait.

First, he needs to figure out what Yoda means that he had the power all along. Unless... it means he doesn't need the key? That doesn't make any sense, but Rey sits down, reaching into the Force.

The moments drag by, but the Force wraps around him, surging – much the same way it did with the key, and he opens his eyes to see a gaping portal.

What?! He jumps to his feet, running forwards. He has no idea how to undo this, but if he's come this far, maybe there's still a chance after all.

He finds himself standing in the throne room again, but instead of Vader standing next to Sidious, it's –

"Ben?"

"Who are you?" Ben demands, stepping forwards. It hurts, seeing Ben standing here and alive in front of him. Rey's still mourning his death. It had happened only right after they were starting to get to know each other. Right after Ben saved his life. This isn't his version of Ben – he wouldn't even know who Rey is as a boy anyway, even if he was – but it still hurts seeing him here.

And why is he here with Sidious instead of Vader?! What has already happened to the timeline?! What if it's too late to be undone?

He considers answering, but by whatever off-chance everything hasn't been broken yet, it's probably not a good idea for Sidious to know his name. "You know me," he answers instead. It's an answer enough. Ben can feel their bond, and it hurts so much to have it alive and pulsing between them again. Once he returns home, it will be gone.

Ben stills, and he can feel him touching him with the Force, probably wondering why he feels just like Rey.

"Destroy him, my apprentice," Sidious orders sharply, and Ben springs into motion instantly, igniting his lightsaber.

Fine. If they have to fight, then they'll fight. It's – it hurts, but he needs to focus on fixing the timeline. Their blades clash in the center of the room, a furious blur of gold and red. He's more skilled than Rey remembers, or maybe it's just that the first time they fought, he was injured, and the other times... Apparently, he was holding back. But now, not so much.

Rey is skilled, too, and desperate, but that might be more distracting than anything. Ben finally finds an opening, knocking him to the floor, leveling his lightsaber only inches away. No, this is bad! He was supposed to be fixing things, not leaving them damaged irreparably.

"Destroy him, my new apprentice," Sidious hisses.

Ben swings the blade down, and Rey rolls out of the way barely in time, lashing out with the Force, throwing him back. He makes it to his feet, right as Vader and a young Luke in binders step into the room.

Oh. So that's where Vader disappeared too.

"Uncle Luke?!" Ben exclaims, pausing.

"Uncle?!" Luke repeats, incredulously, looking between him, Rey, and Sidious.

Fine. Fine. Maybe this will be slightly easier than he thought, but he won't dare hope yet. He takes off running, flipping across the room and landing near Vader, swinging for him. The Sith blocks him with the Force?! And then shoves him back. He ducks out of the way of the swinging red blade, turning and slashing through Luke's binders.

Sidious cackles maniacally, as though enjoying all of this. "Destroy them!" he laughs, and Rey has no idea who he's talking to or about. Why does he almost think Vader might be included in the 'destroy' list?

"I need your help!" he calls desperately to Luke, spinning to block Vader again.

Ben charges across the room, lunging for Luke, who gets his lightsaber on barely in time. "Now you die, Uncle," Ben snarls.

"I don't even know who you are," Luke says flatly, and Rey doesn't have a chance to hear more than that, because all he can do right now is try to stay alive. This isn't a fight he's ever going to win, so what he needs to do is run.

He feels a little bad about leaving Luke like this, but it'll only be momentarily. He backs towards where the other two are fighting, then Force flips backwards, circling around them and running for where he can see the key near Sidious. Reaching out, it flies for his hand right as Ben spins and realizes what he's doing.

Now. It's his chance to start fixing this. He turns the key, opening a gateway instantly as Ben charges. It hurts, sending him back to his time like this to die, and knowing everything here will proceed exactly the same, but there's nothing Rey can do. Trying to save him will mean breaking the universe, and no one is worth that.

Ben doesn't manage to stop himself and tumbles headfirst through the portal, before Rey quickly closes it. He's about to open a second one when Vader nearly takes his head off again.

"Enough, Lord Vader," Sidious interrupts, "I will finish this."

Rey doesn't have more than a second of warning before a blast of lightning hits both him and Luke. It lets up soon enough, but it still leaves him gasping for breath, past the pain burning through every inch of his body. Force, it hurts.

"Now you will feel the full power of the Dark Side," Sidious growls, but instead of the next blast of lightning hitting one of them, it hits... Vader?

"I warned you what betraying me would bring, Lord Vader," Sidious hisses, when he finally lets up, turning away without bothering to hear Vader's response – if he had the presence of mind to say anything anyway.

Rey tries not to let himself get distracted by the horror twisting inside of him. Seeing the way Sidious is treating Vader is... it's sickening, but Rey has his chance now, and he can't lose it. Throwing out a hand, he calls the key to him again, or tries to, because Sidious promptly stops it mid-air, trying to pull it back to him.

"Do you really think you can win?" Sidious asks, almost gloating.

"I am not alone," he retorts, giving a slight nod towards Luke, where he sees the boy standing up. Luke latches onto it with the Force, too, and they try to pull, but it hovers mid-air, going in no one's direction.

"I am coming, my master," Vader says, slowly climbing to his feet, as though what Sidious just did to him is perfectly normal. Is it perfectly normal?!

No, no, no – if Vader joins, they'll never win. Behind Sidious, Rey can see BB-8 zooming up to him, and he only needs to give a distraction that the Sith won't see coming.

"Do you know how to change genders with the Dark Side?" Rey grits out, struggling against the Force pull.

Sidious falters for less than a fraction of a second, but it's a fraction of a second too long. The key flies to Rey's hand and he opens a portal, leaping through, landing back at the Temple. He closes it just as quickly, desperately hoping that no one will follow, or that it's not too late for the timelines to even out. Rey has no idea what dangers time travelling could cause, but he has little doubt it could be catastrophic.

Well, that was... interesting.

And it taught him a lot, even if he's beginning to think that they will be stuck forever swapped. Maybe. There might be something else he can find to fix this.

But right now, that's not the important part as much as he knows how to keep teaching Finn, how to train her as a Jedi. He can only hope it will work this time.

***

Poe... had better expectations than this – having Rey ditch out on them to deal with Jedi somethings and more importantly, being gender-swapped of all things in the galaxy was not her... er, his-her-whatever idea of fun.

Everyone is at the Life Day Celebration now, though. The room is full of decorations and lights, and – "Anyone hungry?" she asks cheerfully, carrying the first plate of tip-yip in the room. Zorri Bliss had finally brought some, and it had been beyond awkward trying to explain to her that yes, she was still Poe.

"Do I smell tip-yip?" a familiar voice calls from the doorway.

Everyone turns to see Rey and BB-8 standing there.

"Rey!" Finn greets, instantly brightening.

"Look at all this," he says, cheerfully, scanning the room, "Glad we made it back in time."

"So are we," Rose replies.

"Did you get any answers?" Poe inquires. That, at least, would be one benefit out of his spontaneous disappearance.

"About how to train Finn, yes," Rey answers, "About how to change us back... no."

"All this, and you didn't even find that out?" Poe groans. At least she hoped some good would come of it.

"Hey, all isn't lost yet. I can look for more answers, but that'll have to wait."

Poe really, really does not want to learn to live like this, but there's no other choice. Not now. She's almost tempted to resign herself to the disturbing chance that it will never be fixed, but... she doesn't want to give up hope yet. She can't imagine living the rest of her life like this, and yet... is it really so bad? It doesn't actually affect her job.

"What did you find out about teaching me?" Finn asks.

"That what I needed was already here." Rey steps forwards, pulling her into a hug.

"Hey, if you two are done," Poe interrupts, after a long moment, "It's time to eat." She's just hungry, okay? Though the emotional-ness doesn't bother her quite as much as it once would have.

Rey pulls back, still smiling. "Here, you're going to need this," he adds, passing his lightsaber to Finn.

"So, I am ready to become a Jedi?" she asks, eagerly.

"You always were."

"Hey, what did I say about how Jedi business can wait?" Poe asks, walking up to the table. (This is, in fact, her favorite part about Life Day, but she usually doesn't have time or a good enough excuse to have someone make it.)

They don't get much past that, though, because then, it starts snowing.

"Snow on Kashyyyk?" exclaims Threepio, "What are the odds –"

All the Wookies are already running out of the Falcon into the snow just starting to cover the ground. It only serves to make the day even more perfect, Poe has to admit.

"You look ridiculous," Zorri mutters, stopping next to her.

Poe elbows her. "You've said that enough times already." And she really does not need to rub it in, especially not when they might be stuck like this. That would not be fun at all, but it...

Okay. To be fair, they've dealt with stranger things. Worse things. It's not easy to become accustomed to it, but they're surviving, and what else can she ask for?

***

The more time goes on, the more Finn is pretty sure she's going to have to resign herself to being stuck like this. Rey hasn't found anything, and at this point, it's unlikely he's going to.

But at least they're finally getting somewhere in Jedi training. "You're going to need a lightsaber of your own soon," Rey comments, standing off to the side, watching, as Finn practices with his.

She doesn't know what changed since Korduku, except that Rey seems to have more confidence in himself – and somehow, that's really changed a lot. Personally, Finn thinks that he was doing just fine all along.

"Yours is working fine," she calls, spinning to block the laser shots from the training droids hovering around.

"Yes, but we need to start practicing actual sparring," Rey replies.

Finn nods, spinning again to block more of the shots. It's not that hard for her to learn how to use a lightsaber in a totally different body, considering that she never knew very well how to do so in the first place – she trained with staff like weapons as a stormtrooper, but this is different.

Rey is having a much harder time, though. Most of what he knew was self-taught in the first place, but he's trying to reteach himself how to use a lightsaber in totally different body, and it's really not easy, not when he already knew how to do so, so well.

"If it'll help you," Finn adds, knocking the last of the training droids to the ground, "Then any time."

"There's lightsaber crystals on Ilum, from what I've seen," Rey continues, "Maybe some time we can go there."

"You'll need to expand the Order past just me eventually," Finn reminds.

"I know. I've been thinking about it," he admits, "I don't know when, but... soon."

Suddenly, Finn doesn't know that she's looking forward to that very much. Once they do, she won't be able to stay with all her friends constantly anymore. Poe will be doing something with X-wings probably, and Rose, well... she's not a Jedi, so there's only so much she'll have a reason to be around them either.

But that time isn't yet, so for now, she'll just try not to think about it. Maybe when it comes closer, she'll plan a big vacation for them to just be together for a while first. But for now, she just does her best not to think about it.

It doesn't really matter right now, anyway. She doesn't think any of them will want to stray far until they're more accustomed to being swapped, and maybe there's still a chance Rey will find a way to reverse this. Maybe.

Even if not, maybe staying like this won't be as bad as Finn might have thought.

Chapter Text

They got the idea a long time ago, but of course, they had to wait until the next Life Day to actually try going back to Korduku, to use the key to see if there's any way to reverse this.

"This is the place you were talking about?" Poe asks skeptically, scanning the room, "It looks like a pile of rocks."

"It's a Temple," Finn chides.

"It's not meant to be fancy," Rey points out, "Are you ready?"

They both nod.

He raises a hand, calling a cone-shaped object to him. "With a key to the past, a Jedi's future becomes clear," he recites, "I hope that applies in this situation."

"It does affect everything about us," Poe points out.

It's a little unnerving, though. They're opening a door through time and space, and they don't even know where they're going. Finn can see why Rey is slightly hesitant, but he finally twists his wrist, and a gaping black hole, surrounded by blue swirls opens in front of them.

"Wow," she breathes, eyes widening. She may be quite well trained as a Jedi now – she even has her own lightsaber – but sometimes, the kinds of things Jedi and the Force are capable of still amaze her.

Poe's eyes widen slightly at the sight, even if she still looks Poe about it. "Where's it taking us?"

"We'll find out," Rey replies and steps forwards into it. Finn exchanges a glance with Poe and they both head forwards, stepping through, despite her nervousness.

She feels weightless for a moment, before suddenly finding herself on solid ground, somewhere else entirely.

They're standing outside somewhere, right near the Falcon, but that isn't what catches Finn's attention the most. It's the people.

Three of them feel familiar for some reason, and they remind her very much of... Luke, Leia, and Han except they're all different genders?! Unless she's just imagining the similarity, but given how young they all look, and the other person with them, she could almost wonder.

Vader.

How did they end up here?! Rey looks no less alarmed.

"What's that?" the girl who looks suspiciously like Han demands, incredulously, staring at the portal behind them.

"Who are you?" the dark-haired boy demands, stepping forwards, to stand next to Vader.

"We just uhh... are in the wrong place?" Rey practically squeaks, backing towards the portal.

"What are you doing here?" the blonde-haired girl asks.

"Do you know anything about being gender-swapped?" Poe asks lightly, stepping forwards.

The other three exchanges glances. "A little too much, actually," the boy replies. "How do you know?"

"We went too far into a swamp and came out like this," Finn supplies.

"So did we!" exclaims the girl.

Wait, this is... So, this isn't a problem that's just affected them?! Finn has no idea who these people are, but maybe it's something they can all try fixing together. "Who are you?" Rey asks, gaze darting to Vader for a brief moment, "I know we're in the past, but I don't know when or..."

"You are from the future?" Vader asks.

It's strange and unnerving to be talking to him, when the only times Finn has heard of him are on holos that are very anti-Empire. She knows he was once Anakin, but it's still... strange.

"Um, yes?" Rey offers, "We're..."

"In our time, you died like thirty years ago," Poe offers cheerfully.

"What year are you from?" asks the boy.

"36 ABY."

"Okay, none of this explains how you're here," the dark-haired girl interrupts loudly.

"With... the Force," Rey replies, "We were searching for a solution to this, but instead we ended up here."

"You two are Jedi?" the blonde-haired girl asks, perking up, "I'm Lukka Skywalker, the first Jedi in my time, and that's... Lucan, formerly Leia."

"Wait –

"Lukka?" Rey repeats, incredulously.

"This is a different timeline," Finn realizes, stilling. She was almost starting to wonder, but actually hearing it... Well, things have really become a million kinds of weird.

***

Hanna didn't know her life could get any crazier, but she should have expected it with Skywalkers around. Especially with Lukka and Lucan's very strange dad. They've been staying with him for about a year now, since this mess first started, and the twins have gotten a lot closer with him, oddly enough. Hanna still doesn't know what she thinks of Vader, but she trusts the twin's judgement.

"How do you know?" Lukka asks.

"In our timeline, you were never swapped," the boy explains.

"And I don't believe you ever... allied," the dark-haired girl with lighter skin says, waving her hand in Vader's general direction.

"Then what did happen?" Lucan asks.

"Did anyone consider getting introduced first?" Hanna interjects, above them all.

"I'm Finn," the dark-skinned girl says, "This is Poe Dameron, and –"

"Rey Skywalker," the boy finishes.

"Skywalker?" echo the twins and Vader.

"I... not by birth," Rey explains, shifting almost uncomfortably, "Luke and Leia trained me in the Force. Them and Leia's husband, Han, were... the only people I ever really saw as my parents, so taking their last name seemed... fitting."

That's beyond weird, to hear about how another version of her – him, technically – adopted a child of sorts. Also – "Doesn't that seem unfair to anyone else?" Hanna drawls, "Other versions of us got to stay normal."

"Been thinking that this whole time," Poe offers, "I wonder if there's other 'versions of me' who did too. How's that possible?"

"The Force. Don't try to understand it," she says, flatly.

"I could almost agree with you," Lukka speaks up, "But I don't know what happened in this other timeline. You said it's thirty years in the future, and that Father..."

"What can you tell us about it?" Lucan agrees, obviously reaching the same conclusion.

"From what I heard," Rey begins, "In 4 ABY, the Emperor built a second Death Star. When he was there, the Rebellion attacked. They blew it up, and Luke... redeemed Vader, but he was..." He trails off, obviously uncomfortable with saying this so directly, but the meaning is clear.

That's... Hanna doesn't even know what to think of that. She's gotten quite used to having Vader around, and she knows how much he means to both the twins. She can't imagine someone with so many creepy Force abilities dying so easily either. Apparently, being gender-swapped really changed a lot of how events would play out. Then again, if not for that, Vader would never have realized Leia was his daughter – er, son.

"We killed Sidious," Lukka declares, "What happened to him in your time?"

"We thought he was dead but he wasn't," Finn cuts in, "He built the First Order, from what was left of the Empire."

"He brought himself back to life somehow," Rey continues, "If he died at all. He was building a secret stronghold on Exegol."

Lukka and Lucan tense instantly, looking to Vader.

"You don't think it's possible he did that here too, do you?" Lucan asks warily, his tone very much implying he's already certain of the answer.

"It is... possible," Vader replies, "My master was always prepared." That doesn't sound good. It was already enough that both of the twins could have been killed in the last battle with him. Hanna doesn't want to have to go through that all over again.

"Then we need to go there before he sees it coming!" Lukka exclaims.

Hanna frowns. "You better not mean today. It's Life Day." Putting it off won't help, though.

"Wait, it's Life Day here too?" Poe asks. "How long has it been since you were swapped?"

"About a year," she replies.

"It was for us too!" Finn exclaims, "This portal is only open on Life Day. That might be why."

Lukka perks up. "You walk through time with it?"

"Technically, the Jedi text I read said 'with a key to the past, a Jedi's future becomes clear'," Rey replies, "But I can't say why it sent us here."

"Perhaps because we have the same problem?" Lucan offers.

"Could we go with you?" Lukka asks, eagerly, "If this is one of a year thing..."

"Are you seriously talking about walking through time, kid?" Hanna asks incredulously.

"We might be able to find a solution to this. And we'll be walking through time," she insists, "Father? Lucan? What do you think?"

"Meddling with time and reality is... dangerous," Vader warns.

"But they couldn't have come here and interacted with us so much if it was going to cause serious consequences, right?" Lucan objects.

"I did this once before," Rey speaks up, "And the universe didn't break. I was careful not to interact with anyone too much."

"We just want to see if there's a way to undo this. You can come if you want," Finn offers.

Hanna can't deny that she's a little interested in seeing how this works, with how many millions kinds of crazy it is, but at the same time, it's... Sometimes these Force things go way over her head, and she'd prefer to stay clear of them. Especially when they'll be walking through time and reality. What does that even mean?

Lukka and Lucan look hopefully at Vader. "Do you want to come?"

"Very well," he concedes at last.

"I'm not letting you walk into this craziness alone," Hanna decides, giving the twins a pointed look.

"Then let's get moving," Poe advises, "I don't want to spend all of Life Day here."

***

The galaxy is still in chaos and the Empire has yet to be defeated, but at least Lothal is free. Especially on special days like Life Day, it's the most Ezra could ask for. She's been staying here most of the time – unless she's really needed by the Rebellion – to help rebuild the planet. They need that and constant protection just in case, after all.

The other members of the Ghost crew don't stay here nearly as much, especially not Hera, but they're here often enough. "I was really hoping the others would make it back in time," she comments, as her and Sabine step into the rebuilt version of Ezra's once home. Sometimes being here still hurts, but it's... it's home, along with her new family.

"Me too, but I'm not surprised," Sabine replies, setting his helmet down on the table, "We'll have to celebrate alone."

"Then let's go to Old Jo's," she advises. At least there she'll be more with her people, and...

Something shifts suddenly, in the Force. She hasn't felt a disturbance this strongly since –

"What?" Sabine asks.

"There's something –"

"What's that?!"

Ezra spins around, to see a black hole forming in front of them, and all at once people start filing out of it. All she can do is stare wide-eyed.

That is, until a much too familiar steps out behind the other six – the sound of the respirator echoing much too loudly in the small room.

Oh. Oh no.

Sabine reacts first, whipping out her blasters. "What are you doing here?"

Ezra reaches for her lightsaber, just in case, then realizes the same moment that four of the other people have lightsabers too. Are they all Sith?! They don't feel like it in the Force, but –

"No need for hostilities," a dark-haired boy with a lightsaber interrupts, stepping forwards, holding up a hand, "He's on our side now."

"Who are you?" Ezra asks, dubiously.

"Lucan Organa-Skywalker," he replies.

For a moment, all she can do is stare. "I didn't know... Princess Leia had a twin brother?" she practically squeaks.

"Not another one of these universes," groans one of the dark-haired girls.

"Universes?" repeats Sabine, lowering his blasters but keeping them ready to fire if necessary.

"I'm not her... twin," Lucan replies, "I was her. Before we got... gender-swapped."

Ezra's eyes widen, gaze jumping frantically between them and Sabine. Wait – Now that she thinks about it, that portal was a little similar to the World Between Worlds. "Did you open a portal from the World Between Worlds?" she blurts.

"World what?" the blonde-haired girl with a lightsaber asks.

"We opened a portal through a Jedi Temple," another dark-haired boy speaks up – the one holding a strange-shaped cone, with the Force pulsing weirdly around it, "We were trying to find a solution to it, but we keep ending up in other universes like our own, where someone else was swapped too."

Well. That's weird. "I'm Ezra Bridger," she offers, "This is Sabine Wren. And the rest of you are? ... Wait – Darth Vader got swapped?! Are you a woman now?! Or – you know, I don't even know what you were in the first place." Okay, that's not entirely true, but...

Sabine elbows her. Hard.

"No," the blonde-haired girl replies flatly, "He's our father. He came with us."

"I knew my versions of you briefly," Lucan says, "But your world is clearly quite... different. The last I heard, you were lost in the Unknown regions."

"What?" Ezra squeaks, "How would that have happened?"

"I don't know the details, but it happened when you were fighting reclaim Lothal from the Empire."

"The only one of you I know is Hera," a dark brown-haired girl interjects, "And she's always fighting with me over what's better between the Ghost and the Falcon."

"Nothing is better than the Ghost," Ezra says flatly.

"Nothing is better than the Falcon," she retaliates.

Sabine rolls his eyes. "I think this conversation is quite pointless. Perhaps we should finish introducing ourselves?"

And they do. Apparently three of them are from decades in the future, and... Lucan is apparently secretly Vader's daughter – son – and has a twin named Lukka. Well. Okay then.

"Do you want to come with us?" Finn asks.

"Tickets are open for everyone," Poe agrees cheerfully.

"Come with you and do what?" Sabine asks dubiously.

"Walk through time. See what we can find," Rey offers.

"Sure," Ezra concurs, grinning, "I've been in the World Between Worlds before. This will be... fun. What do you think Sabine?"

"I don't know," he replies, hesitantly, "I thought we were going to be celebrating Life Day."

"That is what we're doing," offers Lukka.

"Hey, no one else is even here. They won't miss us," Ezra argues, "Come on."

"Fine, but if this goes wrong..." Sabine trails off, moving forward.

Ezra can't exactly blame him for being hesitant to walk through time like this, especially not when Vader's here – even if the twins adamantly insist he's helping them now; Kallus changed, too, and he was responsible for a purposeless genocide so the claim isn't that farfetched, but still.

She doesn't want to pass up on this opportunity, though. Not if it's a once in a year sort of thing. And with people from other dimensions?! It's the best thing to do on Life Day ever, if the rest of the Ghost Crew won't be here to celebrate it too.

***

A life like this on Naboo is what Paufre always wanted, even if sometimes he does really miss being in the Senate. He's still active in politics sometimes, but he tries to be at home at the Lake House resort as much as possible to help take care of the twins, who are about one year old now.

It's early enough in the morning that Luke and Leia are still sleeping, and Obi, Anika, and Ashan are meditating outside together the same way they do every morning, when Paufre suddenly sees something very strange. It's like a black hole, with blue and white swirling around the edges in a way that very much reminds him of hyperspace.

What is that?!

The three Jedi are already moving, turning towards the portal as people start walking out. And they just keep on coming through, until there's nine people standing in the yard. Paufre is beginning to think he went to bed much too late last night, because this is insane.

"Who are you?" Ashan asks, incredulously.

"Are there an endless supply of these?!" demands one of the girls with dark hair.

"I think this is the last one I want to see," another replies flatly.

"What is that?" Obi demands, as the portal behind them disappears, thanks to a cone-shaped object in one of the boy's hands.

For some reason, Anika and the cyborg are staring fixedly, almost incredulously, at each other, still saying nothing.

"Perhaps we should start from the beginning," the boy offers, "With introductions."

Paufre couldn't agree more.

"I'm Rey, and these are Finn and Poe," he says, gesturing to them respectively, "We're from 36 ABY, and we were gender-swapped just like I assume you were. We found a key at a Jedi Temple to walk through time and reality, and here we are."

"What's ABY?" Paufre blurts out, confused.

"What do you mean what's ABY?" repeats Poe.

"Maybe they're on a different calendar system," offers a rainbow-haired boy.

"The Clone Wars ended a year ago here," Anika replies.

"The Clone Wars?!" Finn and a black-haired girl exclaim.

"Let's finish introductions first. I'm Sabine Wren, and that's –"

"Ezra Bridger," she cuts him off. "We're from almost twenty years after the Clone Wars ended."

"Hanna Solo," offers the first dark haired girl who spoke.

"I'm Lukka Skywalker, and that's my twin Lucan," the blonde-haired girl introduces, and Paufre goes completely still. So do Anika, Obi, and Ashan, actually. "And he's our father... Vader."

"Skywalker?" they all repeat.

"Our children are named Luke and Leia," Paufre says, slowly.

"You were swapped and changed your names?" Anika asks.

"Who are you?!" Lucan demands, sounding almost frantic. Unsurprisingly. Because if Paufre's understanding correctly, these are swapped versions of their children in the future, and Vader is... is he him or what Anika would have been if not swapped?! That's what Paufre is pretty sure of, because he thinks he would know if he was facing another version of himself – even if he can't say why he thinks so.

"Anika Skywalker, formerly Anakin," she replies, gaze darting back to Vader. From how unsettled she seems, it must be an older version of Anakin. Who's going by 'Vader' for some reason.

"Anakin?!" Finn exclaims, eyes going wide, "Anakin Skywalker?! Hero of the Clone Wars?"

"We served in the Clone Wars," Obi cuts in smoothly, "I'm still Obi-Wan Kenobi."

"Obi-Wan?" she repeats, looking even more in shock than before, "You're – you –"

"Paufre Amidala-Skywalker, formerly Padme," Paufre speaks up, and Vader's helmet instantly turns to face him for a moment before just as quickly looking away.

"And I'm Ashan Tano, formerly Ahsoka," Ashan finishes.

"Ahsoka?!" Ezra blurts eagerly, then pauses, "Vader killed you –"

"What?!" comes the general exclamation from almost everyone.

"I did not," Vader interrupts.

"You didn't?" Sabine asks dubiously.

"She survived."

"What are you talking about?" Paufre demands.

"Long story," Lukka offers.

"You're Anakin?" Obi asks slowly, eyes fixed on Vader.

"That name no longer has any meaning to me," he retorts. Paufre blinks. What? That doesn't make sense. It's not a denial or confirmation, but if this is Anakin, he doesn't understand why he's acting like this. It's already extremely weird to see a male version of Anakin. He can't imagine what it would have been like if only one of them got swapped.

"Why not?" Ashan asks, "And why do you feel so... not Jedi?"

"I am a Sith," he replies, stiffly.

"A Sith?" Obi repeats, "What? How did that happen?"

"It's a long story," Lucan interjects, "I don't know that know is the time to get into it."

"Then when is?" Obi demands, "Are you staying here or just leaving?"

"Did you find any answers on how to reverse this?" Paufre asks, hopefully. Though being switched back at this point would almost be weird. Imagine trying to explain to their children that yes, Anakin gave birth to them, so he's technically their mother.

"Not yet," Rey responds, "It doesn't seem like we will. All we keep finding is more universes like this one."

"And this is the last one I want to see," Poe says flatly.

"So, either we all go home, or we stick around," Sabine concludes cheerfully.

And so, that is how they end up with the strangest set of guests the Lake House has ever seen.

***

Ashan has no idea what to think of this madness. They invited everyone who wanted to, to come inside, though after Lukka and Lucan saw their younger selves they were too weirded out to stick anywhere close by, not that he can blame them.

It's after that, that Ashan finds himself alone in the same room as Anika, Obi, and Vader. He'd still very much like to know why Ezra thought a future version of Anakin killed him. Although, he has no idea if they even knew each other in this strange alternative reality, anyway.

"Strange being around two of you," Ashan comments.

"Two too many," Obi offers lightly.

"Hey!" Anika protests, though something about the darkness in Vader seems to suddenly coil and intensify.

"I know you may not wish to speak of it," Anika begins, "But I would like to know when things diverged in your time from ours. Or if things were always different."

"When were you... transformed?" Vader asks.

"It wasn't long before Maul went after Satine on Mandalore," she replies.

"And then a few months later I found out Anika was pregnant," Obi interjects, "We all left the Order together when the Council decided to throw her out."

"You left with her?" Vader asks, and why does he almost sound... incredulous?

"It was not an easy decision, but... yes," she replies, frowning.

"And I did, too, because I didn't want to get a new master," Ashan pipes up.

"You remained in the Order?" he asks, uncomprehendingly.

Ashan frowns. "Why would I not have?"

"The Temple was never bombed?"

Anika frowns. "It was, but we found out Barriss was behind it. Someone was trying to frame Ashan, but there wasn't nearly enough evidence to prove anything."

Vader falls quiet, and he feels... Ashan isn't quite sure, but he's obviously upset.

"Are you saying I left the Order in your time?" Ashan deduces, cautiously.

"You were framed and cast out of the Order. After your innocence was proven, you chose not to return," he replies, voice strangely toneless. Well, he always sounds pretty toneless, but something about the way he's talking now is... Ashan isn't sure, really.

"But how did you end up as a Sith?" Obi asks again.

"The Jedi betrayed the Republic," he answers shortly.

Ashan has no idea why that lead him to becoming a Sith, but it's obvious he's not very inclined to talk about it. He thinks that's probably understandable. Anakin was always so light. It must have taken a lot for him to embrace the Dark Side to the point he senses it in Vader.

"Why would the Jedi ever do that?" Anika inquires, frowning.

"They discovered the Chancellor was a Sith and committed treason."

"Why would that make you become a Sith?!" Obi demands incredulously.

"It was treason," he repeats, as though that explains anything. Ashan really doesn't understand this. He doubts he ever will. "They were attempting to assassinate him. I stopped them."

"But he was a Sith," Ashan argues. That doesn't make it not illegal, he knows, but he doesn't see why that would ever make Anakin turn on the Jedi. In this time, she'd helped them to take down Sidious, after all.

"He was still the Chancellor."

Anika sighs. "I don't see a point arguing about this, when we don't even understand all the differences between our universes. And we didn't invite you to stay here to..." Interrogate him on obviously painful things in his past? No, Ashan supposes not, even if he'd still like some answers.

"I just don't understand why you would turn on the Jedi," Obi admits, "What... happened to your family?"

The darkness coils sharply around him again. "I did not have a family."

"But... you have the twins, so you must have been married," Ashan objects.

Vader doesn't reply.

"And what happened to Ahsoka and your version of me?" Obi wonders, confused.

"You never cared for me, Obi-Wan," Vader replies, sharply.

"What?" Anika blurts, "But –"

"Yours is not the same," Vader interrupts, "She is... different now."

Obi scowls. "I cared for you just as much before I was transformed! Were our universes really that different?"

"My Obi-Wan would never stay with me," he replies, bitterly.

They all exchange uncertain glances. Whatever happened and whenever these changes started happening, the universe is obviously extremely different.

"Well, I don't know what was wrong with your family," Ashan chirps, "But you're perfectly welcome to stay here."

"That will probably have to be an annual thing only, if you don't want to be trapped here, but yes," Anika agrees.

"And you can call me Obi," Obi offers.

"I will not call you such a foolish nickname," Vader retorts.

"It's what I go by now," she protests, grumpily.

Ashan rolls his eyes. "Okay, whatever. Why don't we like do something other than discuss what names are or aren't stupid, or depressing things that happened years ago." He wants to spend more time talking to Vader, though. This is another version of his master, and he... wants to get to know him, even if he's not his version.

***

Now that Rey is sitting outside the Lake House with Lukka, Lucan, and Hanna, he's starting to really notice the strange sensation in the Force that's centered around Hanna. Well, he actually noticed it immediately, but it really stands out now.

"You were saying we adopted you?" Hanna is the first to break the silence.

"I mostly raised myself growing up. I didn't have anyone," Rey says, thinking back to it – to when his parents had left him there on Jakku. They promised to come back, but way inside, he'd known the truth. "But then I found the Falcon in a junkyard –"

"A junkyard?!" Hanna demands, voice rising. Lukka smothers a smile at how irate she sounds. "How'd it end up there?"

"I don't know, but Finn and I were flying it when Han and Chewbacca found us. We were... looking for Luke who'd disappeared for years, so he agreed to help me."

"Doesn't seem fair that he got to stay normal, and we didn't," Hanna mutters. That much too familiar Force presence that Rey can feel – which seems to be inside of Hanna – is nagging at his attention. He really wants to ask, but it's... rude. They don't know each other that well.

"Why was Luke missing?" Lucan asks.

"His new Order was destroyed," Finn speaks up, "The First Order was hunting Jedi again."

"Everything fell apart again?!" Lucan demands.

"Because of Exegol," Rey interjects, "But you know about it now. Han was... killed... and..." He doesn't really want to explain how, so he's glad when no one asks.

"That's charming to hear," Hanna replies with far too much cheerfulness, "But we all die some time." What a way of looking at it.

"And Luke became one with the Force after training me for a short time, so Leia finished my training. It was right after that when the battle of Exegol happened."

"We need to take care of this as soon as we get back," Lukka declares.

They fall silent, and Rey can't help but reach out with the Force, touching that other very tiny, just forming, presence. It feels like Ben, which is probably the only reason he can sense it now. He's missed this. His greatest regret of Exegol and everything that happened is that Ben was lost, even if a part of him still lives through Rey – and it always will.

Maybe it is plain rude, but he can't just not comment on it anymore. "I don't know if you know, but –" He cuts himself off, suddenly feeling embarrassed.

"What?" all four ask.

"I can sense... Hanna's child." And it's beyond weird to think of Hanna as being Ben's mother, and Lucan his father.

For a moment, everyone just stares at him.

"What?!" Hanna and Lucan demand incredulously. So, they didn't know.

"In my time, I had a Force dyad with Han and Leia's son. I can sense him here now," Rey explains awkwardly.

"You're... pregnant," Lucan says slowly, looking to Hanna.

"No way," she protests, frantically.

"We're... we're going to be parents." Lucan sounds... a strange mixture of excited and alarmed.

"We're not ready for this!" Hanna protests.

"It sounds like we'll have to be ready," Lukka interjects, a mix of amused and nervous. "We'll still have some months to prepare. We should tell Father."

"But this wasn't supposed to happen!"

"If that's true, then –" starts Lukka.

"Do not finish that," threatens Lucan, standing up, "Come on."

Well. This was not how Rey was expecting the day to go.

***

Anika isn't sure what to think of what Vader was telling them about his timeline. It doesn't even make sense. There were many times she often questioned if Obi-Wan really cared about her, but she always knew he – now she, whatever – did. It was an instinctive knowledge, even if she often questioned how much. But it never mattered, because they were Jedi first, back then. Now, for all the chaos that the galaxy is in, they're only civilians, and they're taking the time to themselves.

She doesn't care if it's selfish – after everything they did for the galaxy, they deserve a short break.

Whatever happened with Vader, something seems to have gone very downhill, to say the least, between him and Obi-Wan. She wants more details, but she's definitely not going to ask. She can feel how upset he is already, with everything they were just talking about, and that's not what they invited any of the others to stay here for.

"Are you... alright?" she asks finally. It's a foolish question considering the circumstances, but she needs to know. He's so... dark, and it worries her. More than that, he's in pain, and she wants to help him. She doesn't know what she could do, though. She doubts there's much anyone could do.

Vader looks at her, and she finds herself suddenly feeling oddly uncomfortable. "By what measure do you inquire?" Vader asks.

She's not surprised he's being evasive about it – it's not as if she isn't the same way. "I know we upset you," she replies, quietly.

"I am a Sith. Anger fuels me."

She is this close to face-palming. "That's not what I mean. I should have realized it wouldn't be an... easy topic. We shouldn't have kept pressing you about it. That's not what we invited you here for."

"It is of no consequence," Vader insists, though she can feel otherwise. She's struck with the sudden desire to offer some kind of comfort, or maybe it's that their emotions are looping strangely, and she's partially picking up on something he wants.

Anika reaches out slowly, lightly touching his arm. It's mechanical – though she already guessed as much from how he felt in the Force. He doesn't pull away, so she reaches down, taking his hand. It's ridiculously huge it is compared to hers, but it's... the most she can offer him. He doesn't seem to mind, even though he finds it weird. So does she. They're literally the same person. But it's not like everyone doesn't hold their own hand, so it's not that weird, is it? (Why is she trying to convince herself it's not?)

There's a sudden noise in the doorway and Vader immediately pulls back. Anika looks up to see Paufre standing there. "I didn't mean to interrupt," he says.

"It's fine," she tries to brush it off. No use making both of them more uncomfortable about this.

"I must say it's... strange meeting a male version of my wife," Paufre says, dryly.

"I said the same when you were first transformed," Anika says flatly. "That was very, very awkward – I don't know if it's better or worse my future daughter-in-law can say the same." She doesn't know what to think of seeing an adult version of their children. It's even more disturbing knowing they're from what her own timeline would have been like if not for the change.

"I have always wanted to know what my real mother was like," Lucan speaks up, appearing in the doorway. Why are he and Lukka radiating such a strange amount of nervousness? Meeting older versions of her own children is... weird, but she finds that even if they're Vader's, she still deeply cares for them. They're still her's, even if she didn't give birth to them.

"In a way, I... am your mother?" Anika offers.

"Don't put it like that. It's weird," Lukka whines, "You're a female version of our father, and now we have another father who was also our mother once. This doesn't make any sense."

Paufre laughs. "We can all agree with that."

"I'm glad we... have this chance to meet you, though," Lucan says.

Lukka elbows him. "You're just stalling."

He glares at her. "I'm –"

"What is it?" Vader asks.

"You're gonna be a grandfather," Lukka chirps, grinning.

What?!

Okay, this is not the conversation Anika expected to be participating in – but apparently, Hanna is pregnant, and she and Lucan aren't even married yet, and... Vader and Paufre don't seem a great deal more impressed about that then Anika is. "Then perhaps it's time for you to get married," Paufre says flatly, "I know your mother would have expected that too."

"We're uhh..." Lucan trails off.

"Now," Vader orders.

"What?!"

Anika completely concurs. "It's Life Day, and we're all here."

"You mean today?"

"Why not?" Lukka asks.

"Yes. Today," Vader replies, "Unless you have a legitimate reason to put it off."

"Well... no. But I don't know what Hanna will think."

"She will agree."

Anika chooses to ignore that somehow sounds like a threat.

"Alright, fine," Lucan decides, straightening, "I'll go talk to her."

"Well, if we're going to have a wedding here, we'd better start preparing," Paufre decides.

Why does Anika have a very bad feeling about what kind of "wedding preparation" Paufre is intending to force on all of them?

***

Lukka is pretty sure the only reason Hanna is so reluctantly willing for a sudden random wedding out of nowhere is because she didn't want some "stupid fancy party" anyway. Frankly, Lukka has no idea what to think of all this, but she can't deny her excitement. She has no idea how to prepare for something like this, though. It's... the first wedding ever, and where do they even start?!

"I always wondered what our mother would be like," Lucan comments again, as they stand outside.

"You're still thinking about that?" Lukka asks. Not that she's stopped, but she's a little taken up with this wedding, thanks for asking.

"Hard to forget the only mother we have is also our father, and we have two siblings who look the way we should."

"That was weird," Lukka mutters, "And unfair." Seeing Luke and feeling the strange connection between them was the strangest ever, and maybe the only reason she's thinking so hard about the wedding is to distract her from the slightest feelings of jealousy. "I wanted this, too," she admits, finally, "I wish we could have grown up together with our parents. We have Father now, but it's not the same, and I know it's not the same for him either."

"I know," Lucan agrees, "Just... seeing everything here..."

"I wished the same," a voice pipes up from behind them, and Lukka jumps, spinning around to see Ezra standing there. "Didn't mean to interrupt," she says, looking sheepish, "But I overheard your conversation."

Lucan waves a hand. "It's fine."

"I wish I could have... you know. But I'm glad you have your parents here," she continues.

"But you can still be a family with them," Rey points out, approaching, right as Anika, Obi, Ashan, and Paufre all come outside.

"Come on, you all need to be preparing for the wedding," Paufre calls.

"Where do we start?" Lukka asks.

"He still has all of his old clothes," Ashan says cheerfully, "I'm sure each of the girls won't mind picking one."

"That won't be necessary," Obi says flatly.

"We'll just stay in our robes," Anika agrees.

"No, not plain robes. This is a special day!" Paufre argues, "And where's Hanna? I'm sure I have something that could work as a wedding dress."

"Wedding dress?" Hanna shrieks, appearing beside them, "I don't need that. I'll stay in these."

"You aren't dressing in work clothes for a wedding."

"They look just fine," she says, stubbornly.

"I have to agree with Paufre here," Anika interjects.

Hanna looks severely betrayed. "No. Absolutely not. I don't wear dresses."

"I'll be the first to be brave enough," Lukka cuts in, smirking.

"I'll come, if I'm invited," Ezra offers, grinning.

"Of course, you're invited," Anika says.

She laughs, almost awkwardly. "I just never thought I'd come here to attend... Anakin Skywalker's son's wedding. Or that I'd see Ahsoka again."

"How well did we know each other?" Ashan asks, raising an eye marking.

"You helped train me."

"What happened? You said that..."

"I don't think now is a good time to talk about that," Sabine interjects, "It will definitely ruin the spirit."

"I would like answers, but I agree," Obi concurs.

"But it's... real nice meeting both of you!" Ezra offers cheerfully, "Ahsoka talked about you two all the time."

"I can imagine she did," Anika replies, in a tone that implies she's very much used to people fangirling over her. Which she probably is, considering how famous she is.

"Come on," Paufre interjects loudly, "There's dresses for all of you to try on, and I'm sure the boys can manage on their own."

"I think we can all manage on our own," Anika objects. She and Obi exchange a glance and scram back towards the house.

"I don't think he's gonna let you hide!" Ashan cackles.

Hanna and Poe exchange a look and take off next.

"Fine. We'll start with Lukka, Ezra, and Finn."

***

"Your husband is insane," Poe says flatly, as she, Hanna, Anika, Obi-Wan, and Rey find a good spot to hide in the house, somewhere Anika says someone shouldn't find them immediately. Vader is conveniently standing near the doorway as a deterrent. For once, she can be thankful to the very strange Sith Lord.

"He only wants this to be perfect," Anika objects.

"Which you clearly disagree with or you wouldn't be hiding in here," Poe retorts.

"Our robes are fine," Anika replies, "I do think Hanna should... wear something more appropriate."

"I'm not wearing a dress!"

"She didn't say dress," Obi says dryly, "And it's not that bad."

"Don't tell me Obi-Wan Kenobi has worn dresses," Poe huffs.

"Why's that a bad thing?" Anika asks, though she looks like she's about to start laughing.

"You know what? All of this is insanity."

"I think we can all agree with that," Rey speaks up, "But I'm glad we made our way here. I... I know I didn't tell you before, but I go by Skywalker because in my time, your children... they took care of me."

"Then you are a Skywalker," Anika replies, eyeing him. "Family is more than blood."

Rey nods. "Luke... spoke a lot of you."

"Wouldn't it be Vader he spoke a lot of?" Anika asks.

"No. It was Anakin. And you're pretty much the same."

"Wait," Obi interrupts, "So, if he was like your children's child, that makes you a grandmother already."

"Then you're a great grandmother," Anika shoots back.

"I'm just a great aunt," she huffs.

"You know, you could take that two ways and that's... bragging. I thought you told me that's not the Jedi way."

Obi snorts. "As if any of this is."

"You actually already were grandparents, if Hanna is pregnant," Poe points out.

They both ignore the comment.

"While I'm here, I... want to ask you something," Rey begins.

"What?" Anika prompts.

"I need to rebuild the Jedi Order, and I need to do it right. The last two Orders fell, and I don't want mine too, next. And I... They had a better chance of succeeding than I did."

"How so?" Obi asks.

"Well, Luke was your son, and he knew far more about the Jedi than I do. And he... he wasn't what I am."

"What do you mean 'what you are'?" Poe asks, dubiously.

Rey is strangely quiet, and whatever this is, Poe suddenly thinks it must be something that bothers him more than he lets on. "All my life I was without a last name. Then I found out biologically, it was Palpatine."

"Palpatine?" Anika echoes, eyes widening slightly.

"I'm his granddaughter, technically. I – I wanted nothing to do with him, so I changed my name. I was more a Skywalker than I was his, anyway."

"Being a Palpatine doesn't make you... His being a Sith doesn't change you," Anika reminds.

"I know," he replies, "It's just... after all the things he did to the galaxy, I can't do this wrong."

"You won't. Not if you're that determined," Anika replies.

"We can give you a quick rundown on what Jedi should be like," Obi offers.

"But you don't have to do this to make up for what Palpatine did. That isn't on you. Do it because you believe in it," Anika says.

Rey nods, giving him an almost shy smile.

"Have you seen them anywhere recently?" Poe hears Ashan crowing from right outside the door, sounding on the verge of laughter.

"No," Vader replies. Biggest lie ever.

"I can sense them that way!" Finn calls, and she hears footsteps coming closer.

"Traitor," complains Poe. It's as far as they get before the door swings open, and they step in, Finn wearing a fancy dress which looks... surprisingly not stupid on her, though Poe won't admit it. And nor will she join. "Come on, everyone. What's wrong? We have a wedding to prepare for!" Finn calls.

"Yeah, and for all those too reluctant, we have the perfect solution," Ashan adds gleefully.

"I have a bad feeling about this," Obi deadpans, as if 'bad feeling' is nearly enough to sum up whatever horror is about to occur.

***

Sabine is having a lot more fun than he thought he would, with all this insanity. It's also a lot less lonely to be a swapped-by-a-swamp weirdo when there's other people who were too. "Need any help with the flower chains?" Sabine calls, as he passes the next room, where some of the others were plotting their very evil revenge on those who decided not to... cooperate with Paufre.

"We can handle it!" Lucan yells back. Weird that he's so willing to participate in such revenge.

"No."

"Are you sure? Black is... boring. Not to insult your color choice."

"Yes."

Fine. Sabine takes off again, and only moments later she stumbles on the suspiciously missing members to their crazy... family of sorts. "I am not wearing this," Obi complains, as Ashan gleefully dumps a flower chain around her neck and turns to do the same for Anika.

"It's not that bad, Master," Anika smirks.

"I can't believe you're agreeing with them!" Hanna exclaims.

"I'm agreeing this needs to look nice."

"Shouldn't you all be excited for this?" Finn frowns, "I don't even know what this is like. I never really knew it was... a thing until after I got away from the First Order."

Sabine frowns at those words. "You were that secluded?"

"The First Order was the only thing I knew," she replies.

"I can relate... to a point," he admits, "I was once an Imperial cadet, and I... was pretty brainwashed back then."

"Do we really want to discuss this right now?" Rey asks.

"You're right. We don't," Anika replies, "But I know how to escape further... harassment."

"Tell me," Poe urges desperately, skillfully ducking as Ashan tries coming at her with a flower chain next.

"Someone needs to cook something special."

"You cook?" Sabine asks, raising an eyebrow.

She gives him an odd look. "Yes?"

"She knows how to do every odd job you can imagine," Obi says flatly.

Sabine hums. "That must be convenient." Something about the look the two of them exchange gives him the feeling that maybe the reason that's true for Anika isn't something so positive, so he decides to quickly drop the topic. "But I know how to cook too. I can help."

"You do?" Ezra asks incredulously, appearing behind him, arms full of flowers – surprisingly, she's even wearing some herself.

"It's offensive you've lived with me for years, and you don't know that."

"I'm saying your excuse for cooking might ruin the wedding."

"Hey!"

Anika laughs. "I'm sure you can be of some help. Come on. We better get to work."

And they do, so it's a pretty good excuse for them to escape further harassment from Paufre – apparently cooking isn't something he has patience for at all. Obi-Wan starts the stove on fire one time and nearly gets grounded from the kitchen – and Poe almost blows up the stove, so she is grounded from the kitchen, even if that seems a little like discriminatory treatment – but at least they're finishing up their preparations quickly.

Paufre does come to drag Hanna away eventually, insisting that she needs to look nice. And somehow,Lukka and Ezra are able to talk her into letting them braid flowers into her hair, just to surprise Lucan.

"Fine. I'll do it just to look stupid," Hanna finally conceded.

"You look great," Sabine shot back, "If you want, I can add some paint to it."

"That would ruin the effect," Paufre had instantly protested.

But now, they're finally ready for the ceremony.

It's late in the afternoon now, and it's nothing like Mandalorian ceremonies, but it's... nice, Sabine has to admit. He'd glad that they're all here for it. Maybe they can come together like this every year.

***

He's married, and Lucan can hardly believe it. It's – It's one of the best moments of his life, and he doesn't know why it suddenly feels so incomplete. (Bail and Breha ought to be here for it. He has three versions of his biological parents, but still, it suddenly hurts that they're gone.)

"What is it?" Vader asks, appearing next to him, where they stand out. Surprisingly, Vader is also suddenly feeling strangely... subdued. (Anika and Paufre said they got married here, which means Vader and Padme probably did, too. Is that even a surprise that he's... not feeling so great at the moment?)

Lucan once found it strange to talk to him about anything remotely personal, given their history, but he can't deny how much he cares for him now. A lot has changed in the past year. "Alderaan," he says, voice surprisingly steady, "They should have been here."

Vader's hand touches his shoulder, and he reaches up, laying a hand over it. It's the most either of them can offer the other, he knows, and he can only take comfort in the fact that his biological father is here. And another version of his real parents. That counts for something.

"Anyone wanna go for a swim?" suggests Paufre.

"I'd love that," Rey smiles, and most everyone is scrambling for the lake in minutes.

Sabine opts to staying near the house, painting something, hopefully with permission. Hanna and Poe decide they're more interested in looking over and criticizing the current technology of the ships there. Vader and Anika finally opt to join them, so Lucan heads for the lake with the others. It's not as though she has anything else to do.

"I didn't know this much water existed until I was nineteen," Lukka comments cheerfully, as they splash around.

"I came say the same," Rey replies, "I lived on Jakku. Everything was sand there."

"And I was on Tatooine, so that's all I saw also."

"I guess the rest of us are luckier," Lucan calls.

"Are you sure you don't wanna join us, Master?" Ashan hollers, swimming over the bank.

"I'm a little busy!" Anika shouts.

"You're always busy with that," Obi yells back. Lucan still finds it a little surprisingly she opted to join in the water nonsense, and it's beyond weird seeing her as a woman – remembering the time she knew Obi-Wan from her own time. Killing him was one of the main things he held against Vader for a long time, but after hearing why... He certainly can't say he doesn't understand it. Anyone would want to kill someone who did that to them.

"But I don't usually get to hear about future technology fifty years in advance," Anika retaliates.

"Fine. Let's have a water war without them," Ashan decides smugly.

"Sure," Ezra chirps, and throws a splash of water in his face before he can duck.

Ashan spits out a mouthful of water, spluttering, and Lucan throws a wave at Lukka before she sees it coming.

Within moments all of them are throwing water at each other, and Lucan lets his melancholier thoughts slip from mind as he enjoys the insanity in the lake with the others. Anika does come to join them eventually, once it's close to sunset, but they don't have much longer to spend before the day will be over.

So, for now, he'll just enjoy this – his wedding day – while it lasts.

***

"It's time for us to go," Rey declares, where they all now stand in the main room of the house. It's dark outside now, and they only have until midnight when Life Day is over. Obi knew the moment was coming soon enough, and for as chaotic and exhausting – though in a good way – as the day has been, she finds she's not ready for it to be over yet.

She liked having all of them here – people who, for the most part, are members of their future family, some of whom are people they'll probably hardly even know, if at all, in their own lifetimes. It's also nice being around people who understand and have lived through the same ridiculous predicament that they did. The one she thinks she'll miss seeing around most of all, though, is Vader.

He's another version of Anakin and it's... strange, seeing him here. He's so dark compared to Anika, and Obi really wants to know what happened to him. And why he thinks his Obi-Wan never cared about him, because she frankly doesn't see how such a thing would be possible. Things couldn't have gone over well after he became a Sith, because she can't even imagine how she'd react if Anika randomly Fell, but still. Now isn't the time to ask for details. On another visit maybe, assuming there will be another one. She... would actually not be very happy if this is the last time that she sees all of them, and she's pretty sure Anika, Ashan, and Paufre can all relate to that.

"It is time," Sabine agrees reluctantly.

"We can always come back," Finn promises.

"It won't be until next Life Day. That's an entire year away," Lukka objects.

"You're all free to stay here, if you want," Anika offers.

Everyone exchanges glances with their respective group members. "I think we all need to go home," Lucan says, finally. "We all have duties and lives to attend there."

"Yes," Poe agrees, "We do."

"But we'll come back next year, if we can," Finn promises.

"Make sure you come pick us up," Ezra insists.

"And us," Lukka interjects.

"You can stop here like you did before," Paufre suggests.

"Or maybe next time we can visit one of your realities," Ashan chirps, "I'd like to see the kind of palace you live in." Apparently, Vader is the Emperor in the other reality, and Obi cannot imagine Anakin as an Emperor with how much he hates politics, but whatever.

"It's nothing that special," Lucan protests.

"It's far too fancy for my taste," Hanna insists.

"You get used to it," Lukka offers.

"Not much to see in our place," Sabine says, "I think I'll prefer to come right here."

"You could also look for new realities," Obi says dryly.

"I don't think anyone wants to do that," Ashan deadpans.

"Not to speed this along, but it's probably time we prepare to leave," Paufre speaks up.

Everyone falls almost awkwardly quiet again. It is awkward, because Obi hasn't really had to say goodbye to anyone before. She never had a reason to.

"Oh no, is everyone about to get mushy?" asks Poe.

"You don't need to listen," Sabine says, cheerfully.

"This was one of my best Life Days ever," Finn offers, "I hope we can spend it with all of you next year, too."

Poe sighs dramatically in the background, and everyone ignores her.

"And I'm glad I got to meet my mother who is my father, and my father who is my mother," Lukka says, smiling.

Paufre laughs. "It was good seeing our... other two children."

"And attending your wedding," Anika agrees.

"We'll... miss being here," Lucan says, and there's only a split second of warning before the twins are crushing Anika in a hug. They hug Paufre too after that, before stepping back.

"Maybe next time we can bring someone else here," Ezra speaks up, "Like the rest of the Ghost Crew, or even... Ahsoka! Wanna meet yourself, Ashan?"

"Bring her if she wants," Ashan offers, "That'll be..."

"Strange," Obi supplies.

"Definitely," Anika agrees, glancing at Vader.

Which reminds Obi that she really wants to say something to him, but she's hardly sure what. "I know what you said about your own reality," Obi says, almost awkwardly, looking to him, "But it was... interesting meeting a future version of Anakin." There's more she wants to say, but she doesn't really know how, and their audience makes the situation only more uncomfortable.

Vader's helmet only inclines slightly, so she just leaves it at that.

"Here, take this home as a... gift," Ashan smirks evilly, dumping one of the flower rings in Vader's arms – Obi is mildly surprised when he actually catches it, though he promptly passes it to Lucan.

"That was for you," Ashan complains, but the Sith ignores him.

Or maybe it's that he's looking at Anika now, and Obi almost wonders if they're communicating telepathically from the look on her face. Unless they're just able to read each other that well.

"I suppose it's... time for me to take everybody home," Rey declares finally, once the moment is broken.

The others murmur their agreement, though none of them seem particularly eager about it. Rey finally withdraws the strange key, opening a portal, and all the interdimensional visitors step through, and then just like that it's gone, along with everyone else.

For some reason, she feels a weird sense of... loss the moment they're gone. It's silly, though. She didn't even know them really, and for a moment, she could almost think she'd dreamed up the whole day, if the obvious signs of having more than a dozen people here weren't everywhere.

"Well," Ashan states, "That was weird."

"Yes, it was," Anika agrees, and Obi is pretty sure she's feeling much the same way right now, if not more extreme.

"I could almost question if it was real," Obi says dryly.

"It was. Just look around," Ashan retorts.

"Do you think we'll see them again?" Paufre asks.

"Yes," Anika replies, smiling faintly, perhaps sensing the future, or for all Skywalker craziness, maybe she can still sense her other self across time and space, "We will."