Work Text:
“Anakin.” A voice rang out in the afterlife as a what looks be world between worlds if one would describe it as the person in question appeared as if out of nowhere and approached three individuals. The person nodded his head down in a bow and then back up.
“Master Qui gon. Obi wan. Yoda. What do you call me here for?” Anakin asked as he looked back at them, ever since he became a force ghost, he’s been more humbled ever since his time as both Anakin Skywalker and Darth Vader. Wanting to redeem himself so that when his son became one with the force he would be there to support him.
“Trouble there has been in the galaxy… old threat comes.” Yoda said as he and the others show Anakin a face he thought he never seen again and frown upon. Admiral Thrawn in another galaxy far far away. When he hears about other galaxies when he was a boy he didn’t believe in the, growing up. As Darth Vader he doubled down on the fact, and when Thrawn disappeared at the Battle of Lothal, he somewhat felt unhappy at what was Thrawns supposed death. When he became a force ghost and came here, he learned quickly of what the world between worlds was, and how it connected all galaxies, including the one that Thrawn was in.
“Is there a reason you are showing me this?” Anakin asked as he looked back at the three Jedi in concern.
“Thrawns return is inevitable no matter how many times one stops his minions in this galaxy, it is the matter of someone from here we are concern about someone we knew quite well.” Obi wan said with his voice softened at the last words.
“Who Luke?” Anakin ask wondering of what was wrong with his son. Sure Luke had a big burden of training a new Jedi order, no big deal. He handled bigger threats than just rebuilding the Jedi order.
“No… Ahsoka.” Qui gon answered as Anakin turned to a sad one looking down in shame. He remembered quite well when Ahsoka left the order when they left her to the Republic and Palpatine to be sentenced for the Jedi temple bombing, a crime she did not commit which drove her away from the order, and from the remainder of Anakin training.
“Is she dead?” He asked after a few seconds looking back up, knowing quite well if she is, then she needs to see someone who was like her older brother, her master and not the form of Vader, the monster who’s name put fear on the the galaxy. He could never forget that day on Malachor when he fought her as Vader and those words that haunted both him and her… “Then you will die.”
“No… she is not Anakin.” Obi wan answer as he walked up and put a hand on Anakin shoulder, “When you toke her as your padawan during the clone war you taught her how to be soldier, a fighter who never let their guard down. Not a peace keeper or a Jedi. I understand why you taught her that, but when the war ended all she had was your training and nothing else.”
Anakin stared looked at Obi wan when he said those words. It’s true he did, he taught Ahsoka nothing else but a soldier and that was it. Of how to use a lightsaber. He taught her to fight, and that is what she knew all her live.
“Walking a concerning path she is. Her padawan Sabine Wren, left she did.” Yoda said, “ Another Skywalker she fears. Emotions in the young girl powerful they are.”
“Ahsoka still feels guilty for the role she played and your downfall.” Qui gon said as he toke over as Anakin close his eyes as he can picture her leaving the Jedi temple… down those steps. They are right… if the positions would have been reversed he would be guilty too.
“However there is a chance to teach her one last lesson.” Obi wan offers as Anakin opens his eyes to look at them.
“What lesson is there that I haven’t taught her?” Anakin asks confused as he looks at the three Jedi before him.
“To let go of the guilt…” Yoda started as he trail off as Qui gon followed.
“To live…” Qui gon join in.
“Or to die.” Obi wan ended as Anakin began to realize what they were saying as he stared off. They want him to have Ashoka realize that what happen to him was not her fault. That he made the choice to fall to the dark. That he chose to die, and that there was still time to save herself. To live…
Looking back at them with a conviction he nods his head as he asks, “Where do I begin?”
“Here… in the world between worlds. This is where you will teach Ahsoka your final lesson.” Qui gon answers as he fades away.
“Pass on what you have learn…” Yoda says as he too vanishes leaving only Anakin and Obi wan. Obi wan pats Anakin on the shoulder one more time, “Remember what you learned from all of us. And teach Ahsoka one last time.” Obi wan says as the both look up as they hear a noise of lightsaber clashing… and someone falling.
Anakin looks back at Obi wan with a grin his master knew all too well. Smiling obi wan disappears leaving Anakin alone. Turning around to face an unconscious Ahsoka, he waits for Ahsoka to wake up as he ponders of how to teach her the final lesson in his mind. Seeing Ahsoka waking up he finish’s his plan as Anakin waits a few moments…
“Hello Snips…”