Happy Star Wars day! (again).

I was going to upload this later, but I was too excited/nervous to share this, so I'm doing it now. Enjoy!

"You want to go to Illum?" Master Che asked, brow raised. Ahsoka felt her surprise cut through the Force before it dissipated in a single moment.

Obi-Wan nodded. "Ahsoka is in need of a second lightsaber crystal," he explained.

Master Che sighed slightly. "I'd rather you travel somewhere with more mild temperatures first. There's no knowing how your body will respond to extreme temperatures, Obi-Wan," she explained. "But I can tell that you're determined to do this, so let me run some tests, and then we'll see."

Ahsoka watched as Obi-Wan nodded. She thought about how Obi-Wan was during the past few weeks. Some days, he seemed to be almost like how he was before, as though nothing happened at all. But some other days, Obi-Wan wouldn't even bring himself to get out of bed; he would pick at the food on his plate instead of actually eating it. Whenever she asked him about it, he'd say that he wasn't hungry or that he didn't sleep well the night before. When she asked Master Qui-Gon about it, he didn't exactly know what to say.

About an hour later, Master Che returned with the results.

"So," she began, sitting herself down on the stool next to Ahsoka. "I still hesitate to send you off-planet, Obi-Wan."

She tapped on her datapad, and then handed it to Obi-Wan, who took it with a frown.

"As you can see, your body's chemicals are still completely out of balance. That explains why you have some good days, when everything seems to be functioning well, and some bad days," Master Che explained.

Obi-Wan stared down at the datapad but nodded slightly.

"Your blood pressure is also lower than what it was last time and you're hypoglycemic and slightly dehydrated. You're not eating enough, and you're still underweight. And I know you've been skipping appointments with the mind healers," she finished.

Ahsoka's eyes widened.

Obi-Wan remained completely silent, eyes fixed on the floor.

"I'm not saying no, Obi-Wan," Master Che said, more gently now. "I understand that this is important to you. I know your recovery has been difficult on you, but you need to understand that this is something you'll be dealing with for the rest of your life. I know it wasn't like this before, but because of what happened—"

She cut herself off as Obi-Wan nodded again without looking up.

"Let's do this," Master Che proposed, eyes shining slightly. "Come back here tomorrow. You'll speak to a mind healer, and if they say that you can go, then I'll allow it. You'll have to stay on the ship while Ahsoka gets her crystal, though."

The Healer paused, as though she was waiting for Obi-Wan to say something. He didn't.

After a few tense moments, Master Che smiled and turned to Ahsoka. "May I speak to you outside, Padawan Tano?" she asked gently.

Ahsoka nodded and followed the Master Healer out of the room, leaving Obi-Wan inside.

As soon as the door closed, Master Che exhaled and leaned against the wall next to the door, brows creasing.

"Don't blame yourself, Padawan," she said finally. "Your Master is very good at making it look like everything is alright. Sometimes even he would believe it. And what he's dealing with is a difficult combination of conditions."

Ahsoka swallowed against the dryness in her throat. "It's just that we promised to be honest with each other, Master," she explained. "And because of that, I just assumed that he was alright. We were sparring yesterday."

Master Che smiled wryly. "I did clear him for that, on the grounds that he would not over-exert himself."

"He didn't," Ahsoka said.

"Good," Master Che responded. "Those first days, Ahsoka, after he woke up, were extremely difficult on him. I know you're aware that he didn't immediately agree to Anakin's wishes."

Ahsoka nodded slowly. During that time, it seemed as though everyone was watching her, from members of the Council to younglings in the crèche. She tried to ignore it, but it was extremely disconcerting.

"I was worried that he wouldn't make it, Ahsoka," Master Che continued. "Yes, he woke up from the coma, but Obi-Wan wasn't…" She trailed off and swallowed harshly. "I dread to think of what would have happened if Qui-Gon Jinn didn't show up when he did."

Ahsoka knew that Master Qui-Gon's appearance was what ultimately convinced Obi-Wan to take her as his Padawan. She owed so much to Master Qui-Gon, and she told him that multiple times.

"It won't be easy, Ahsoka. I'm sure you're aware of that. But just continue to be there for Obi-Wan. Make sure he knows that he can talk to you," Master Che said.

"I will, Master."

Illum was just as cold as she remembered. The last time Ahsoka went there was a few weeks before she was assigned to be Anakin's Padawan. It felt strange to return to Illum in search of a second lightsaber crystal with her second Master. But the Force sang with the right-ness of it as they approached the entrance to the cave.

"Ready?" Obi-Wan asked.

Ahsoka nodded and wrapped her cloak around herself a bit more tightly. She had to be prepared for the cold and whatever else was awaiting her inside.

"I'm nervous," she said finally, staring at the entrance. She had a few nightmares over the past few weeks, and she couldn't help but wonder if she would see any visions that might relate to those dreams as well. Despite the fact that she's done this before, she didn't know what to expect this time.

"Anakin was nervous, too, when I first brought him here," Obi-Wan mused. "And so was I, when Qui-Gon brought me." He smiled and sent trust and faith along their bond. "I know that you will find what you need not only because the Force wills it to be that way, Ahsoka, but because you are an incredible Jedi. I have faith in you."

Faith. Ahsoka felt warm confidence in her stomach and a sense of urgency from the Force. Master Obi-Wan was right. She can do this. She will do this.

Ahsoka nodded, then moved closer to face the entrance.

"I'll try to be quick," she said, turning slightly to face Obi-Wan.

Obi-Wan smirked. "I'll be waiting in the ship. Don't worry about me. Focus on getting your crystal," he said.

Her crystal. She heard its song, from deep within the caves. It was reaching out to her in the Force. She closed her eyes and reached for it in the Force. The crystal's melody was pure yet elegant. It felt right.

She was a Jedi, and her crystal was calling to her.

"I hear it," she whispered, and opened her eyes to look at Obi-Wan.

"Good," Obi-Wan said, smiling properly now. "May the Force be with you, Ahsoka."

"And with you, Master," she responded, then turned around and ran into the cave's entrance.

There it was.

A glowing yellow crystal, easily within arm's reach, resting on top of a ledge. The melody was louder now, but not overwhelming. Ahsoka found it to be humming along with the melody of the crystal she already had. Their melodies intertwined into one, creating a multi-layered song that resonated deep within her soul.

It felt so right.

She reached for it, and then—

"Ahsoka."

She spun around to see a tall machine-like figure adorned with a sort of black armor and a cape. There was a mask covering the face, but it was broken, revealing a bright burning golden eye and charred skin. The voice was partially filtered through a vocoder of some sort, but there was a rasping human voice too, mixing together eerily.

"Ahsoka."

She recognized that voice. She knew who that was.

"Anakin," she whispered, and there were tears in her eyes and an ache that pulsed through the bond she once had with him.

She looked at the red lightsaber that he held, and she felt his hate permeating the Force, the coldness.

Anakin was a Sith.

"Anakin, why?"

Obi-Wan, standing a few feet away, eyes wide and bright with tears. His face and body appeared to be awash with agony; he was trembling and shuddering slightly.

The black-cloaked figure turned to face Obi-Wan, the single golden eye shimmering with cruel fury.

"You've lied to me enough times, Obi-Wan."

Obi-Wan stiffened, as though he was physically struck, but did not say anything.

"No," she whispered, taking a step forward towards them. She thought back to that first day on Christophsis, almost a year ago now. Her masters were almost like brothers then, fates tightly intertwined, bounded by trust. Yes, that trust has been used and twisted and nearly destroyed, but it was still there.

"This is wrong," Ahsoka whispered, but it looked like no one heard her.

The crystal whispered in her mind again, and she quickly turned towards it and grabbed it. Immediately, the two figures standing before her disappeared, and the agony that pervaded the Force dissipated.

She instantly spun around and ran, heart pounding in her chest, weaving through the tunnel and out of the cave, right hand tightly gripping the crystal. She sprinted up to even ground, where she knew the ship would be and raced inside. The door to the cockpit slid open.

Obi-Wan was sitting at the pilot's chair, studying something on his datapad. He looked up and stood slowly. "Ahsoka?" he asked, visibly confused.

She could feel tears running down her cheeks. Ahsoka was shaking slightly, though she wasn't sure if it was from the cold or the amount of emotion that raced through her mind. She was feeling so much all at once and she didn't know what to do about it.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

Ahsoka took a few staggering steps forward to stand in front of Obi-Wan and then pulled him into a hug. Obi-Wan froze instantly, but she stayed still, even when he melted into the hug just slightly and hugged her back.

"I'm so glad you're okay," she whispered, voice muffled slightly. "You know that, right?"

When he didn't reply, she pulled herself out of the hug and looked at him. There were tears in Obi-Wan's eyes, but none fell, even though his lips were tightly pressed together. A few moments passed before he spoke.

"Ahsoka, I…" Obi-Wan paused, and a single tear slipped out of his right eye and slipped down his cheek into his beard. He closed his eyes and breathed slowly, looking very much like he was just barely struggling to keep the rest of the tears at bay.

"Master?" she whispered.

Obi-Wan shook his head and covered both eyes with his hands. She watched, completely stunned, as tears slipped between his fingers and ran down his face to his chin, and as his body shook with the force of his cries.

Without hesitation, she hugged him again. She was crying again, too, though they were tears of relief and release. It took her a moment to realize that Obi-Wan was whispering something between his cries.

"Thank you, Ahsoka," he breathed. "Thank you."