- CASTLES CRUMBLING (A.S.) -

- 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐈𝐅𝐓𝐘-𝐎𝐍𝐄 -

you used to tell me i was brave.

"THIS HAS GOTTEN US nowhere," Anakin complained, shaking his head with frustration. Regina let out a sigh of her own, knowing that he was right. They'd been investigating the prison cell where Ahsoka had "killed her accomplice" but they'd found nothing, only a potential airshaft where an assassin could have committed the murder. But there was no solid evidence, even after Anakin had pushed Regina into the airshaft and she'd looked around.

"There's absolutely nothing here," Regina muttered. She leaned against the wall. "Not so much as a footprint."

"Regina, we're in a durasteel prison," Anakin stated.

Regina squinted her eyes at the obvious statement. "I know. I was being metaphorical." She shook her head. "We have to go to my backup plan."

"Oh, I wonder what great idea this is," Anakin remarked sarcastically. He shook his head again. "I have to save her, Regina." He looked at the ground, his shoulders sagging. Regina felt sympathy–for both Anakin and Ahsoka–well up inside her. She had to figure this out, for both of them.

All of a sudden, Anakin's comm beeped. Glancing at Regina, he moved out of the cell with Regina following close behind.

"Anakin, are you there?"

Obi-Wan.

Regina glanced at Skywalker, worry enveloping her.

"Yes, Master?" Anakin replied. She sensed his wariness and she had a feeling that whatever Obi-Wan had to say wouldn't be good.

"The Council is summoning you and Ahsoka to the Judgement Chamber."

Anakin froze and Regina felt her stomach churn. This was bad. Being summoned to the Judgment Chamber—which was essentially the room where the Council judged over its wayward initiates—was never good, especially not in this case.

"I'll get her and we'll be there soon, Master."

He shut the comm off and looked over at Regina. Without thinking about the risks, Regina reached over and took him by the hand.

"We'll get her out of this, Skywalker." She gave him a weak smile. He looked at her with worried eyes.

"Let's go."

They reached the Temple a little time later. Coming to Ahsoka's chamber in the Padawan section of the Temple–it was guarded by two Temple Guards–Anakin and Regina stepped inside.

As the duo entered, they could see Ahsoka sitting on her bed, looking quite dejected.

"The Council has called for us, Snips," he said quietly. Ahsoka looked up, taking in both her master and Regina in one slow look. She nodded her head. She stood to her feet and without a word, they walked toward the Chamber of Judgement.

As they reached the Chamber, Ahsoka shot a glance at Regina.

"When did you arrive?" she asked in a quiet voice. She was extremely upset, though that wasn't a surprise since she was being falsely accused.

"Today," Regina explained. "I came to help prove your innocence." They walked into the room below the Chamber, though Regina lingered in the doorway. "No matter which way this goes, Ahsoka, I'm with you. I know you didn't do this."

Ahsoka smiled, though her eyes didn't light up like they usually did, showing her discouragement. "Thank you, Master."

"You'll be fine." She looked from Ahsoka to Anakin, including him in the statement. Neither of them looked like they believed her. Then the door slid shut.