《Daughter of Mortis》One Moment

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Ania glanced back in time to see Hera lead Ezra away, leaving her alone with Ahsoka. Ania turned back and watched Ahsoka. She was standing with eyes closed. Ania reached out and found Ahsoka's presence quickly.

"You're stronger than I expected," Ahsoka said in reply to Ania's touch.

"It's getting worse," Ania said hesitantly.

Ahsoka turned around. "I didn't expect you to find your way here so soon."

"Vader told me some things that pushed me further," Ania said.

"Tell me everything," Ahsoka sat on a rock and motioned Ania closer. Ania sat next to her mother.

"Last year, when I was the Rebel's prisoner, I didn't want to believe what you were telling me, even though it made complete sense. After you took your memories from me, I was even more confused. The things that I did remember weren't things that had happened to me. The Daughter came to me several times in visions and told me I had to find you. She said you were the only one who would be able to help me."

"I fought it and fought it. I didn't want to believe it. Then, Vader took me somewhere I had wondered about for a long time."

"The Jedi Temple," Ahsoka whispered, eyes hazy.

Ania nodded. "He took me beneath the Emperor's palace and told me what had happened. I found a Jedi Holocron and opened it. It only confirmed what Vader said. A clone worked in the flight hangar where I kept the Ravager. When I went looking for him to ask him about it, I didn't find him. He left a recording on a datapad for me and told me the truth, before Vader ordered him killed." Ahsoka said nothing, but listened.

"I knew I had to escape but there were a few complications. I wound up in Lower City Coruscant and was taken prisoner by Feton Ralius. That's where I found Tolsa and helped her escape with me. I wasn't going to come here, originally, but after that I had no choice."

"What happened?" Ahsoka prompted.

"I lost control. I somehow summoned the Daughter and then turned her to the Dark Side while she was inside of me. Luckily, nothing happened, but it just showed me that I need help. I came here a week ago," Ania finished.

"I see," Ahsoka murmured. "So you came in hopes that I would train you and help you."

Ania bit her lip, feeling panic bubble up inside her. She's going to say no. I'll have to leave! Ania whirled down onto her knees, grabbing Ahsoka's hand. "Please, I know I don't deserve your help but I could kill someone! I know I have in the past, but I didn't know who they were. Vader had me killing Jedi and Jedi associates! I never knew. I'm so sorry. There's no other way for me to make things right." She lowered her head.

Ahsoka hooked a finger under her chin and lifted it and until Ania met her gaze. Wordlessly, Ahsoka pulled Ania to her feet. "There is nothing to apologize for. You didn't know. Vader had complete control of you. I will help you, Ania. I would always help you." Ahsoka wrapped her arms around Ania.

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Ania tensed up for a moment, then hugged Ahsoka back. "Thank you."

"We can begin today. The most important thing for you to learn now is how to balance yourself. The Daughter represented the Light Side, but because you've spent so many years in the darkness, you split her. You must remain in the middle of the Light and Dark Side to maintain balance," Ahsoka said.

"How can I learn that?"

"For now, by using the Light Side of the Force. You must use each side equally or at the same time if possible. Come." Ahsoka put a hand on Ania's shoulder and led her to the Rebel camp.

They approached Kanan, Ezra, and Tolsa. "I need your help, Kanan. You too, Ezra," Ahsoka said as they approached.

"Sure. What can we do?" Ezra asked.

"Come with me. We'll go away from the camp."

"Tolsa should come. She might learn something," Kanan pointed out. Ahsoka nodded and the five of them jumped into a large land speeder. Kanan steered them miles away from the camp and into the grasslands of Lothal. At last, Ahsoka told him they had gone far enough. Ania looked over her shoulder, but the camp was no where in sight. Ania climbed out of the speeder and waited while Ahsoka positioned everyone.

"Kanan, Ezra, stand on opposite sides of Ania. I'll take the third point and if needed, Tolsa can hop in and be the fourth point. On my signal, charge her," Ahsoka ordered. "Oh, and Kanan, give her her lightsabers."

Kanan took the two lightsabers off his belt and tossed them to Ania. She smiled, running her finger over the smooth hilts. Ahsoka turned to Ania. "Sit down and place your lightsabers in front of you. Close your eyes and let the Force tell you what to do," Ahsoka instructed. She quickly took her place between Kanan and Ezra.

Ania did as she was told and let the Force pull her from her body. Hopefully she would be able to ground herself quickly this time. Ania opened her mind, letting the Force flow through her. She began to hear voices. Some she knew, other's she didn't. There was Ion's familiar voice and the Daughter's. Ania vaguely heard Ahsoka's voice from the world around her.

"Ania."

She kept her eyes closed, but the let the Force carry the prominent voice into her mind. "I'm here."

"I've never reached you before."

"Who are you?"

"I'm not sure. In life, I wasn't a Force wielder, and yet now, I am."

"What do you remember?"

"Nothing and everything. Open your eyes. I wish for you to see me."

Ania did as she was told. A tall brown haired man gazed at her intently. As soon as his gaze reached her eyes, something in him lit up. Ania could see his confusion melt away.

"I remember you! You were smaller before," the man said. "And we were running. Yes, I can see it again. We were running and you got away! I...." he paused and furrowed his brow. "I fell from a ship, no, someone pushed me off a ship. I never hit the ground. I flew."

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Ania leaned forward, taking in the man's appearance. "Lux?"

He looked at her swiftly. "Say that again."

"Lux. Lux Bonteri?"

The man let out a whoop! "I remember! My name was Lux Bonteri!" He paused. "I was killed by the Empire while defending Ahsoka." He looked at her and came closer. "And you, Ania."

Ania felt tears sting her eyes. "Father," she cried out and wrapped her arms around Lux. He squeezed her tightly.

"I'm so proud of you, Ania. You've become a beautiful young lady and a powerful Force user." Lux pulled away. "I feel you drifting away."

Ania stepped back. "I think I have to go now."

"Tell Ahsoka that I love her and that I'll see both of you again someday," Lux said. Ania nodded.

She blinked her eyes open to the physical world and gasped for breath. Her lightsabers hummed in her hands and the other four were still around her. Ania deactivated her lightsabers and slumped to the ground. Ahsoka instantly dropped her own lightsabers and ran to her daughter.

"I saw," Ania began.

"I know. I heard everything," Ahsoka replied, a bittersweet smile on her lips. "You did well."

Ezra and Tolsa weren't far behind Ahsoka. "That was incredible!" Tolsa exclaimed. "The way you used your lightsabers and the Force to block everyone and hold your ground. You've got to teach me!"

"But I didn't do anything," Ania objected. She looked to Ahsoka.

"When you were connected to the Force, you allowed it to move you. You were so tuned to it, that you were on another plane of existence mentally while physically you were defending yourself with no limitations," Ahsoka explained.

"Another plane of existence?" Ezra echoed.

"I think she means where I was. I was somewhere in the Force. I could hear voices and I saw my father," Ania explained. Kanan wordlessly stood to the side.

"Wait, really?" Ezra looked at his own master. "I didn't know you could be in two places at once like that."

"Neither did I," Kanan admitted.

"It was only for a moment," Ania continued, "but I'm glad I got to see him. Also, I look absolutely nothing like him."

Ahsoka laughed. "You did when you were little. You began to look more like me when you got older."

Ezra lifted one of Ania's lekku. "I don't think your dad had a lekku."

Ania swatted his hand away. "Point taken."

"I think that's enough for one day," Ahsoka said. "Too much of that and you might become to worn out to do anything. We can practice more tomorrow, though maybe through a different tactic. Let's get back to the base." They piled into the speeder and were soon streaking back to the rebel camp.

Ania asked to be let off a short ways away from the camp. Surprisingly, Kanan didn't ask for her lightsabers when she jumped off the speeder. Ezra followed her without any explanation. Ania studied her lightsabers for a minute, then activated them. She grinned as the familiar energy hummed in her hand. Silently, she began to run through the forms she had been taught long ago. Ezra watched her for a bit, then joined in with his own lightsaber. He stumbled about a bit before catching on to the movements. Soon, they were moving in perfect sync.

"So, why are you doing this?"

"A lightsaber is a Jedi's life," Ania quoted. "I'm not much of a Jedi, but my lightsaber is like a part of me. I wanted to feel it before giving it back again."

Ezra nodded understandingly. "I didn't have my lightsaber until this year. Kanan took me to a Jedi Temple here on Lothal and I passed through it and earned my kyber crystal."

"I never got a crystal of my own. The ones in these lightsabers; I guess they were Ahsoka's before, connected to me."

"I didn't even know someone could have a purple lightsaber."

"From what I learned about the Jedi Order, there was one Jedi Master who had a purple lightsaber. Mace Windu, I think," Ania explained. They stopped running through the forms and sat down back to back.

"Did he survive the Purge?" Ania shook her head. "When Kanan first began to teach me, we heard a rumor that Master Luminara Unduli had survived the Purge. It was a lie." Ezra furrowed his brow. "We tried to find her. Kanan wanted her to teach me. In the end, he took me as his own Padawan."

Ania nodded. "Most of the Jedi were killed during the Purge. A lot of them were brutal, I heard. Vader had me killing Jedi or Jedi Associates, although I never knew." Ania sighed and scrubbed at her face.

"Well, hey," Ezra stood and held a hand down to her. "At least you're making it up now, right? Besides, you can change in only one moment. You've changed. Everyone is giving you a second chance. You should give yourself one."

Ania looked at his hand, then met his gaze. She grinned as she slid her hand into his. "You know, you're not as dumb as you look sometimes."

Ezra shrugged. "What can I say? Must be a Rebel thing." Still holding onto Ania's hand, Ezra began to run back to the camp. Grinning wildly, Ania let him pull her along.

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