Chapter Text
Ahsoka Tano opens her eyes even though she shouldn't.
She doesn't understand – she remembers Malachor; she remembers taking a holocron from Vader’s hands; she remembers Vader's lightsaber; she remembers his fury and the blow that was aimed at her.
And then there was light, and pain passed through her body, making Ahsoka believe she was dead.
And she was supposed to be.
And yet, she’s here, not dead.
She's still alive. Still breathing.
And it hurts. The fact that she is alive hurts because Ahsoka is unable to escape from her memories. Because of who - what - her former Master had become. Her friend, her older brother.
Ahsoka rejects her pain and focuses on her surroundings, trying to understand what is happening. She'll be worried about what has happened later. For now, she must figure out where she is and what is actually going on.
She freezes.
In from of her, there’re two people she knows so well. She knows them, they’re her friends, her family– they’re a ghosts of the long-gone past.
And yet, they’re here.
Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker look at her in shock as if they don't understand what has happened either.
They look just like she remembered them. Obi-Wan is still the strong Jedi Master, invincible and confident. And Anakin… Anakin is not wearing a mask and is not holding a red lightsaber. He is her brother, he is her friend, he is–
–drawing a weapon.
One moment, Ahsoka admires the fact that the two people she so much wanted to see are here in front of her, and the next, Anakin Skywalker's lightsaber pierces Obi-Wan Kenobi's body. Obi-Wan drops to the ground without even being able to protect himself from a blow he would never expect.
He is dead before his body reaches the ground.
Ahsoka is already drawing her lightsabers.
“Vader,” she hisses, seeing the familiar golden eyes.
Darth Vader turns to face her, and there’s a pure hatred in his eyes.
“What have you done?” He asks her sharply. His eyes widen in shock as if he didn't expect to hear his own voice.
It's not a decoder, it's Anakin Skywalker's voice. His body, his lightsaber, his voice.
But it’s not him.
Anakin Skywalker is long gone. Only Vader remained and it’s so wrong to hear him from the body of Anakin Skywalker.
Vader moves forward, determined to kill Ahsoka.
Ahsoka fends off his attack, wincing as the force Vader hits her with reaches her. Vader doesn't hold back, and neither does she.
And they fight because it’s the only thing they can do now. They don’t know any other way to communicate with each other – they can only fight because he’s a Sith Lord and she has been a Jedi.
But they are clearly not in their best shape. Before, they were much faster, much stronger. Now Vader's movements are a bit shaky. Fury gives him strength, but he is clearly not used to this body. Likewise, Ahsoka is not used to her body - she is too short, too young, her body is not flexible enough, and not used to fighting.
Their fight continues, but not one of them gives up.
Ahsoka is not trying to reach him - she has already tried, and it didn't work. No, she is trying to win, to survive because she cannot die, not now that she has gained a second chance.
And yet– yet they both make a mistake.
Their lightsabers miss each other by millimeters. None of them is able to parry a blow.
Vader's lightsaber is in her body, her ‘saber in his.
They both fall to the ground.
There is commotion next to them, people scream, someone kneels in front of Ahsoka, and someone grabs her hand.
“Hang on, help is on its way,” someone promises.
It's a lie.
Her eyes close and the darkness is a blessing as she lets her last breath out.
This is what Ahsoka Tano's first death looks like.