Redemption

Tethered

The next morning, Master Yoda woke Ahsoka up early and led her outside. It was barely dawn.

"A long hike to go on, we have. Old and slow, I have gotten."

And he jumped onto Ahsoka's back. She giggled.

"Where to, Master?"

"A cave, we are going to. Left," he said.

Ahsoka turned left and made her way through the vines and tree roots. He continued directing her as they walked.

"Strong in the Dark Side, this cave is. Sense it, you will. Careful, you must be."

Ahsoka nodded. "Is there anything else you can tell me?"

"Only advice, I can give. Already know these things, you do. Give in to the Dark Side, you must not. Sense the Dark, can you? Close, we are."

Ahsoka steeled herself and kept walking. The uneasiness she was feeling seemed to be coming from a cave up ahead.

Master Yoda abruptly dropped off her back.

"Face this trial alone, you must."

"I understand," Ahsoka said, not looking back at him.

She walked towards the cave entrance and kept going until she could barely see. She heard a lightsaber ignition behind her and ducked.

"Good to see you, Ahsoka," a familiar voice said.

Ahsoka turned around. "Barriss?"

She was there, looking much older than last time, her face dimly illuminated by her red blades.

"I'd say it's good to see you too, but considering what happened the last time I saw you... well," Ahsoka didn't bother finishing her sentence. Barriss knew what she'd done.

She chuckled darkly. "I'll never regret what I did."

"You murdered innocents and blamed it on your best friend!"

"You think you were my best friend? A Jedi?"

"Either way, you were my best friend. Or at least the closest thing I ever had. And you threw it all away just to send a message that no one understood until too late."

"I should have covered my tracks better," Barriss snarled. "I should have killed you and left a suicide note confessing to the crimes and why you did them."

"Why didn't you then? It was so easy to kill civilians, why not your friend, too?"

"I couldn't bring myself to kill you. I was weak." Barriss' lips curled up in a sinister smirk. "I have no such qualms anymore."

Barriss slashed at Ahsoka with her blades. She knew it was a vision, but Ahsoka reflexively sidestepped, the slash barely missing her. They'd been close enough that she'd felt their heat. She really could die here if she wasn't careful.

Ahsoka summoned her lightsabers from her belt and blocked the next attack, her white lightsabers clashing with Barriss' red ones.

She recalled Padmé's words: "Something to tether yourself to this world."

"Kill me, if you must. I am not afraid of death. My attachments will tether my spirit here for as long as I wish."

Barriss scoffed. "Why do you think the Jedi forbid attachments? In the end, they will always be weaknesses."

"Maybe for some. Not for me. My attachments give me the strength I need to defeat you."

Ahsoka knelt, turning off her lightsabers. She took a deep breath as Barriss readied herself for the final blow. She thought of her attachments: Anakin's children, the Ghost crew, the Rebellion, Kaeden...

"What? How are you doing this?"

Ahsoka smiled. She was successfully holding Barriss in place. She flicked her wrist and sent Barriss' blades flying out of her hands.

"My attachments give me hope, and love, and those are what keep me going. They give me the strength to overcome my past and my regrets."

Barriss looked at Ahsoka with wide eyes. Ahsoka stood up and continued.

"I agreed with what you said at the trial, Barriss, it's part of the reason why I left... but I will never agree with what you did. There's always a better way. I wish the Council had listened to you, but getting their attention through violence was never going to make that happen. People rarely look past violent actions."

Ahsoka took a deep breath. "But I will. I forgive you, Barriss."

Ahsoka released her from the Force hold. Barriss let out a choked sob.

"Ahsoka... thank you," Barriss said as tears fell from her eyes.

Ahsoka nodded and Barriss faded away.

"May you find peace," she whispered to the wall, knowing full well that Barriss couldn't hear her anymore.

Ahsoka took a shaky breath and wiped her eyes.