Chapter Text
Ahsoka crawled through tunnels and ducked along corridors, following a path she hadn’t used in decades. The Force was a tight shield around her.
Before the war, it was somewhat of an unofficial rite of passage for initiates to find ways to get in and out of the Temple undetected. Back then, legend was that Master Yoda still preferred to enter and exit that way rather than the grand, main entrance.
Ahsoka scaled one last wall and dropped silently into a lush garden. She was wrapped so deeply in the Force, fighting so desperately to control her feelings, that she didn’t sense the figure standing nearby until they spoke.
“Little Soka?” That warm, soft voice she still heard in her dreams.
They stared at each other for a long moment. Then, to her eternal shame, Ahsoka threw herself into his arms and burst into tears.
Master Plo rubbed her back, humming a melody so low that even she couldn’t hear it, but she could feel rumbling in his chest. Ahsoka was startled to realise he wasn’t that much taller than her anymore.
Finally, reluctantly, she pulled back and scrubbed her face with her sleeve.
“The galaxy has not been kind to you, little one.” It wasn’t a question.
“No. No, it really hasn’t.” She flashed him a watery smile. “How did you know it was me?”
“I would recognise you in the Force anywhere.” The compassion in his voice almost broke her again. “Can you tell me about it?”
“I don’t … I don’t know. I need to meditate on it.”
Master Plo looked around the small, quiet space. His eyes crinkled behind his mask.
“I’m happy to see some things never changed.”
Ahsoka’s smile wavered. She didn’t want to think about what the Emperor probably did to her favourite place to hide.
“If there is anything I can do to ease your burden, you need only to ask.”
“Thank you, Master Plo.” She bowed deeply.
He startled her by returning the gesture - the bow of one Master to another. Her heart twisted, but she didn’t have it in her to correct him. She couldn’t bear to face his disappointment in her.