Redemption

Solid

"Wow, I knew Dagobah was a swamp, but this is just icky," Ahsoka said as she landed the Phantom near a bog.

She sat on a log near her ship and meditated, searching for Master Yoda's Force signature. The entire planet was so connected to the Force that looking for his signature was like looking for a specific strand of hay in a haystack. Ahsoka figured that she would encounter Master Yoda one way or another. She set up camp, lighting a fire and eating some ration bars.

As she was about to roll out a sleeping bag, Ahsoka heard a rustling in the bushes. She looked around, reaching out in the Force to get a better sense of her surroundings. She smiled.

"Master Yoda," she greeted as he came out of the bushes. "Would you like a ration bar?"

"Long since I last saw you, it has been. Tall, you have grown. Food, you offer, before a proper discussion, hm?"

"You're welcome to take a seat, Master," Ahsoka invited, a slight smile forming on her face. She had missed him.

"The story of how you got here, tell me please," he said as he sat down.

So Ahsoka told him everything, from her and Rex's escape from Mandalore to the so-called World Between Worlds to her visit with Ben.

"Glad to hear that Obi-Wan is doing well, I am. Looking for answers, I'm sure you are."

"Yes, Master. I need to understand what the World Between Worlds was and why I'm still alive. I thought it was my destiny to face Darth Vader and die so he would stop hunting my friends in the rebellion."

"Muddles our destinies, this Word Between Worlds does. Changes everything, its very existence does."

"So, my destiny changed when Ezra discovered it. But what did it change to?"

"Know I cannot answer that, you do."

"Where do I go from here? I want to fight the Empire but if anyone finds out I'm alive, I'll just be putting more people in danger."

"Welcome to stay with me, you are. Some training, I have, for you."

"Jedi training?" Ahsoka eyed Master Yoda warily.

He chuckled. "No. Training to become a Force ghost, this is. Done it, both Obi-Wan and I have."

"Okay. What do I need to do?"

"A good night's rest, you will need. Pack everything and come to my house, you should."

Ahsoka nodded and stood up. They made idle conversation as Master Yoda led her to his hut.

Once there, he showed her where she could sleep. After washing up, she climbed into her sleeping bag, knowing that she would need to be well-rested for the coming days.

The next morning, Master Yoda led Ahsoka to a foggy clearing.

"Meditate here, you must. Talk to you, someone will."

"Who?" Ahsoka asked.

"Know, I do not. For me, Qui-Gon Jinn, it was."

"Will it just be a vision or an actual ghost?"

"Through the Force, all things are possible, yes?"

"I guess so," Ahsoka said exasperatedly, remembering her time travel fiasco. She sat cross-legged in the middle of the clearing.

"Dangerous, Dagobah can be. Far, I will not go. Sense it, I will, should you be in danger."

"Thank you, Master."

Ahsoka closed her eyes and started taking deep breaths. She reached out in the Force, barely noticing when she began to float a short height above the ground.

Ahsoka? a voice called.

When Ahsoka opened her eyes, she was somewhere else. It was a dark, empty space, with fog where the borders of the clearing would have been.

Ahsoka, the voice called again. She closed her eyes once more, focusing on the voice.

"Ahsoka." The voice was much clearer now.

Ahsoka opened her eyes. She gasped. "Padmé?"

Padmé smiled down at her, offering a hand. Ahsoka took it, surprised to find that Padmé was solid, and stood. She was dressed in a loose blue jumpsuit, her curly hair cascading down her back.

Ahsoka hugged her. "I miss you," she whispered.

"I miss you too," Padmé said as she put her hands on Ahsoka's shoulders and pushed her away to look at her. "You've grown so much. I'm sorry Anakin and I weren't there."

"It's okay, Padmé, I understand what happened. I'm so sorry. Sometimes I think that maybe, if I'd stayed, things might have been different."

"Don't blame yourself, Ahsoka. Blame Palpatine. He used Anakin's attachments to me and Obi-wan to twist him to the dark side. If you'd stayed, he would have done the same to you, and..."

"I might have died," Ahsoka finished. "If it means anything, your children are alive and healthy."

Padmé's eyes lit up. "Really? Have you seen them?"

"Just the boy. Obi-Wan is with him on Tatooine. He told me the girl is on Alderaan with Bail Organa."

Padmé sighed. "I'm glad they're doing well."

"How did you get here, Padmé? I know all things are connected through the Force, but I didn't know it was possible for a non-Force user to become a ghost."

"To be honest, I'm not certain how I got here either," Padmé admitted.

She is here because you needed her, said a voice inside Ahsoka's head that was definitely not her own. Ahsoka frowned.

If the will and bond is strong enough, you can pull people who have passed away from the living Force and they will become ghosts for a little while. Padmé is here to teach you.

"Teach me?" Ahsoka wondered aloud.

The voice was silent.

"Ahsoka? You okay?"

"Apparently, I called you here to teach me."

Padmé frowned. "Teach you what?"

Ahsoka shrugged. "How to become a Force ghost, I guess."

Padmé smiled. "I think I know what I'm supposed to do."

Ahsoka looked at her questioningly.

"I love - loved - Anakin. When I realized he was gone, I thought I had nothing to live for. There was nothing tying me to that life. It's only possible for me to be here because you called me. Maybe you need something to tether yourself to this world. And whenever you're ready, you can pass on to the Force as well."

"Are you sure you're Padmé and not some weird vision?" Ahsoka asked jokingly.

"I'm most likely both, Ahsoka." Padmé chuckled.

"I should get going," Ahsoka said, moving to hug her friend one last time.

"I'm looking forward to seeing you, but I hope you don't show up for a while. No offense."

Ahsoka smiled as she settled back down on the floor.

"Goodbye, Ahsoka."

"Goodbye, Padmé."

She closed her eyes for a moment, feeling Padmé's form return to the Force. When Ahsoka opened her eyes again, she was back in the clearing on Dagobah. The sun was setting. Master Yoda was sitting on a log nearby log.

"Completed the first part of your training, you have."

"Thank you, Master."

"Interesting visions, did you have?"

"I spoke to Padmé Amidala. Apparently, I called her spirit from the Force. She taught me that I need to be tethered to this world to remain here after death."

"Intriguing, this is, yes. Taken the first steps, you have. But enough for one day. Hungry, I am."

Ahsoka smiled and followed him back to his house.