It was all over too quickly. Anakin was no match for the hundreds of guards that swarmed him the second Gaea said the word. They clawed and screamed, cutting and bruising him. He fought them all off, pushing to get to me.

"No! Master! Run! Leave me here," I begged, sobbing. He cried out as he was once again knocked to the ground by the raging horde. "Please. Leave me here."

"Never Snips. I'll never leave you again."

Gaea still hadn't lifted a finger. She didn't need to. Anakin got all the way to me. He grabbed my arm, struggling to pull me away from Gaea. I inched away from Gaea. She let it happen. She knew we wouldn't get far.

Anakin's hands went limp on my arms. He collapsed, crumpling to the ground at my feet, a knife deep in his back. The blood slowly began to pool underneath him.

"No! No! No no no," I sobbed, turning to face Gaea. My hot tears stung my eyes, burning my cheeks as the fell. "How could you do this? You- you-"

"My fault?" She laughed in mock surprise. "My dear, this was all your doing. I made your options very clear. Like I said before, I'm not lying to you."

"My… fault?" I shuddered. No. It couldn't be. I hadn't killed my master. Or had I? I had the decision. She had only followed through on her promise.

Oh Force! This was all my fault. I had done this. I had sentenced my master to death. "This is all my fault," I sobbed. She smiled, the first kind look I had seen on her face.

"I know," she whispered, "but it will be okay."

"How will it be okay?" I cried, drying my tears on the dark fabric of her cloak.

"With the force, there are many things that can be achieved," she whispered. "Even life, can be returned to those who have lost it."

I looked up hopefully, meeting her eyes. They shone with kindness. "You can bring Anakin back?" I asked.

"No, I do not have a strong enough bond with your master. But you do. You can save him."

"What do I have to do?"

"Join me."

"I- I don't know…"

"Ahsoka. Trust me. You are strong enough to do this."

"Yes, I am," I mumbled. "Tell me what to do."

"The Jedi told you not to feel, yes?" I nodded. "Forget that. Your emotions are valuable. Use them."

She untied my hands, so that I was free to stand and move as I pleased. The doorway glinted with some passing light, catching my eye. I turned, taking a step.

With a flash, my cheek was burning and I was lying on the floor. She slapped me! I got up, fuming. Again, her hand connected with my cheek. Again I was on the floor. I stood.

"What the hell?"

"Stop me."

This time when she moved to hit me, I sprung into action. My years of Jedi training took over, grabbing her wrist, tackling her and pinning her to the floor.

She laughed. "Very impressive youngling. The Jedi taught you well. But they forgot to teach you one thing. The Force is always your first weapon. Try again. With the Force this time."

Without pause, she slapped me. I rose and faced her, determined not to fail again. She swung, I braced, reaching out to the Force…

"Ahh!" I screamed, clutching my now permanently stinging cheek.

"Try harder," she growled, slapping me to the ground again.

"I am… trying," I panted. Slap. Stand. Slap. Stand. Over and over and over again.

"You aren't using your emotions, child. I can feel your hate, your pain, your fear. Use it. Now, for the last time. Stop me."

She swung one more time. No. I am not going to be slapped again. I'm not going to fall. I'm not going to embarrass myself on her floor. I hated this. I hated her. She was not going to slap me.

"Well done," she sneered. I looked up. Her hand hovered just above my cheek, held there by my mind. I did it.

She released her arm, letting it drop to her side.

"Teach me how to save Anakin," I demanded.

"No. You aren't ready yet."

"Teach me," I insisted.

"You will fail."

"I don't care what you think. I can do it. I have to do it."

"Very well," she sighed. "You must remember the emotions you used to stop my hand. Use those to focus on your bond with him. Only with emotion will you bring him back."

I walked over to Anakin and knelt next to his chest. I was going to prove Gaea wrong. I was going to save Anakin. I was not going to fail.

I tried. I tried so hard. I screamed, I cried. I hated him, I loved him, I missed him. He had left me here, all alone, at Gaea's mercy. I would never forgive for that. He was going to come back. He was going to get me out of here.

Nothing.

"You are weak, young one. You didn't trust me. That is unforgivable. But I can see your potential for greatness. I will tell you what you need to do."

"What is it? Tell me. Please."

"It is knowledge you need. This is not something I can explain to you in words. You need to feel it for yourself."

"Please, help me," I begged her. "I need to know."

She didn't answer my question. Merely turned to a guard standing in the shadows off to the side. "Bring her in!"

The door opened, and two guards walked in, dragging a struggling figure between them. Annabeth! They reached the base of the throne, shoving her roughly to the floor.

"Ahsoka!" She exclaimed. "Thank the gods you're okay. Where's Anakin?"

I pointed. She glanced over her shoulder, the colour draining from her face. "He's not-"

"Dead." I nodded. I looked at my feet, and mumbled, "It's my fault."

"You did this?" She exclaimed.

"Well-"

"I didn't bring you here to chat, halfblood," Gaea snapped. "I brought you here so that Ahsoka can learn."

"Learn what?" She asked. Gaea looked at me. I knew what it was. Whether I wanted to or not, I knew what I had to do.

"Ahsoka, kill her."

Is that a cliffhanger? Oops. Did I just end the past two chapters on cliffhangers? My bad. Feel free to let me know your frustrations in the comments. See you soon!