Ahsoka Tano One-Shots

Even Castles Crumble

Heyo, human beings from outer space!

Here is part two of "Even Stone Chips" requested by @mushycloud (screw my freaking tags i'd punch em in the face if that was physically possible)

Read on if you dare. 

Darth Vadar hadn't been informed that the Emperor had spared all the Jedi children. He saw no reason behind the intention of withholding such information from him either. But, whatever may be, he now knew, and he now marched up pristine steps. Steps—he couldn't help but be reminded— which Anakin Skywalker had climbed all too many times: Steps to the Jedi dwelling, their glimmering Temple.

"Inquisitors," explained Sidious. "Once they're trained, they'll serve the Empire well. Some are already loyal."

"And the rest?" said Vader, perhaps a bit short in his temper for only now discovering such a program.

"Many are close. Others are... resistant. But worry not, there's plenty of time and methods to help them find their way."

Vader hummed and stepped into the Temple. It teamed with Force presences and bustled with fear. It would be impossible for Sidious not to notice that fear, but surely Sideous couldn't believe they were loyal. Fear and loyalty could manifest very differently from one another, but then again, Sidious' plan was undoubtedly conspiring perfectly. Vader's master wreaked of pride and determination, almost as greatly as the potency of terror from the younglings.

So much terror. Vader breathed it in, relished it. The first step to the darkside.

"You sense it," noted Sidious. "Isn't it wonderful?"

"Yes," said Vader, delving into the feeling yet again. There was something else there, something Vader refused to explore but Anakin Skywalker screamed for. "The Darkside will be strong in them."

"Come." Sideous turned towards a lift. "I'll take you to the loyal ones and show you what they have learned."

///

Vader watched another performance by a so-called loyal youngling, and Vader was impressed. Their fear suited them well. Already four younglings had exhibited strong aspects of the Darkside, using their powers to dispose of the inanimate practice resources in the most brutal ways. They'd be more reluctant to practice on living things, but more training would make them blind to that fact.

After all, one could become blind to the grief behind stealing a life, especially lives that have no bearing on one's own. Lives one had never been part of, never known, and therefore were irrelevant. But you killed me, and you know me, cried Anakin Skywalker within Vader, and Vader tried to drown him. We're on in the same, you can't rid yourself of me without dying yourself, sneered Skywalker. Vader silenced him with darkness.

"And what of the ones who aren't yet loyal?" Vader asked his master.

"Soon they will be."

"And if they don't?"

"They will. Their minds are young, developing. We can fracture their beliefs and fit them with our own."

And there it was, a nagging presence at the edge of his mind, one that stirred Skywalker within him.

"And if all else fails, there's always pain."

Vader knew that all too well. He'd experienced such pain, shortly after his birth, when he was fit with metal limbs. It had quite literally shaped him, and quite metaphorically as well. "But you avoided my question, Master. What of the non-pledged ones? How are you handling them?"