Chapter: 1 The Beginning of the End

"Seriously Kanan, your putting me on the side lines AGAIN!"

Once again Kanan Jarrus Jedi Knight and member of the Jedi Council have put Ezra Bridger in the back away from the action. They are on the planet Felucia and war between clones and droids have erupted, there have been many sightings of a small Separatist base in a certain area in the colorful jungle on this planet and the Jedi Council have finally decided to send Kanan, his padawan Ezra, and a good amount of clone troopers to handle it.

Ezra wanted to just run out into the battlefield and show the galaxy what it truly means to be a Jedi. As far as he knows Jedi are suppose to be fierce warriors, great leaders, and master saber wielders. Jedi don't fear nothing and he feared nothing but how is he suppose to show that if his master keep putting him off to the side and not giving him the chance to prove he can handle so much more than a couple of simple Jedi training drills in the Jedi Temple.

"I'm sorry Ezra, you have to understand that im doing this to protect you."

"Protect me from what Kanan?" Ezra asked with a unpleasant face.

"Ezra… for the last few weeks I been having… visions… feelings. Something change in the force and… " Kanan said.

"And?" Ezra asked eager to know why Kanan refuse to let him anywhere near the action.

"In all my visions I saw countless bodies… corpses… jedi corpses. I even saw kids… dead." Kanan said with all the life and hope lost from his voice.

"How… Who?" Ezra asked shocked, wanting to know who or what would do such a horrible act even to innocent children.

"I don't know… but what I do know is something coming, something changed in the force and I need you to hang back Ezra." Kanan said with the authority back in his voice.

For the last few weeks Kanan been having nonstop visions of what might be the future or might just be nothing and they all were filled with death, sorrow, and pain with a dark present in every vision. Ezra quickly notice Kanan have gotten more strict on keeping him away from the fighting and more close to the training in a safe environment. It was really getting to him, he been told he is really strong with the force and he knew he had a lot of potential but little chances on getting out there on the field and actually fighting for everything the Republic stands for. He wanted a chance… he needed a chance… he had to get out there in the fight.

"But Kanan…" Ezra said as a final attempt on convincing Kanan to let him help.

"Ezra… I don't want to see you as one of the kids a corpse… now please." Kanan lifted his hand put it on Ezra shoulder. "Hang back."

Ezra knew at this point his decision is final, there were no convincing him. Ezra nodded his head slowly, understanding but disappointed that he is once again push off to the side like he wasn't worthy fighting for the Jedi… or anything.

"Thank you." Kanan said while giving him a small smile, he glad that Ezra is finally listening and glad that he was going to be back here safe.

After saying those two words Kanan ran off into the fight with the clones. Leaving Ezra looking down at the dirt on the ground thinking about everything Kanan said. The death, the bodies, the children… what is coming what and when is it coming if it even happens.

Ezra knew when jedi have visions of the future they could come true or never happen but all he could do now is wait and stay back with the 3 AT-TE's and protect them with the small group of 5 clone troopers who were ordered to stay back and protect the AT-TE's. It probably best not to worry about Kanan visions there never going to happen anyway. No one can take down the Jedi Order, were far to strong to be taken out by anything or anyone.

Still looking down at the ground lost within his thoughts Ezra felt a hand put on his shoulder.

"Sir, are you alright?" It was Max the commander with his hand on Ezra shoulder, he wore a normal clone trooper suit but his suit had crimson stripes going down his arms, kneepads, and helmet. He also wore a kama(a belt cape) around his waist with a blaster pistol in his other hand. His face looked like every other clone trooper but his haircut was a flattop and had a scar on his cheek.

Ezra and Max go way back, Ezra knew him ever since he was a very little kid. He always had Ezra's back and had faith in his plans and orders even if they seem kind of crazy sometimes. Max is like a brother to Ezra and since he lost his parents at the age of 7 and have no other family members it was good to have Max and Kanan to have a brotherly relationship with. Max always looked out for him and teaching him things like how to use blasters and battle tactics. Max is a very good man.

"Yeah, im fine Max thanks." Ezra said trying to hide his space out moment.

"Kanan put you on the sidelines again?" Max said while taking his hand off Ezra shoulder.

"Yeah…" Ezra said also giving off a frustrating sigh. "I don't get it Max he let bulid my own lightsaber and let's me come along on missions but he won't let me do anything."

"He just looking after you."

"I know, but I want to help but how am I suppose to do that if he won't give me a chance."

"You'll get your chance."

"Yeah, right." Ezra said obviously not believing him.

"You will, you just have to be patience and…" Max said but cutoff by the sound of a clone gunship approaching from the air and landing a few feet behind him and Ezra.

Ezra and Max turned around in the direction of the clone gunship wondering why was this ship here. They didn't call for back up or anything who could possibly want to come here when their a all out battle going on. Of course they were a good distance away from the battle, where they couldn't see but only hear the blasters of the guns the clones and droids are exchanging to each other but still who would want to come here... Pong Krell.

When the doors of the clone gunship slid open 2 clone troopers step out along with a beautiful togruta female. She looked around Ezra age and had a lightsaber at her hip. Ezra saw her a few times around the Jedi Temple but never spoke to her because he have a major crush on her.

He disparately wanted to tell her but the jedi rule and the fear of being rejected haunted him day and night. The togruta approach Ezra and Max keeping her eyes on Ezra like she was in a staring contest. But when she finally stood before them she broke her gaze on Ezra and look away in a different direction like she was embarrass or something. Ezra could've swore she was blushing but that might of been his imagination.

"Who are you, youngling?" Max asked the young togruta girl, wanting to know who she was and why was she here.

"My name is Ahsoka Tano, im the padawan of Anakin Skywalker." The togruta said

"I know Anakin Skywalker, he a member of the Jedi Council, a good leader, and the Chosen One. My name is Max but why are you here?" Max asked?

"I been told by Master Yoda to come here and help."

"But why? We didn't call for any back up."

"I don't know he wouldn't tell me. All he told me was to come here and help Kanan Jarrus and Ezra Bridger complete there mission he also said not to tell anyone, especially my master."

"That's odd." Max said eyeing Ahsoka threw his helmet like she was lying.

"I know it hard to believe but it the truth."

"We should tell Kanan, right sir?" Max asked Ezra who remained silent the whole time and still couldn't break his gaze on Ahsoka. She just looked so beautiful.

"Ezra!" Max shouted out.

"What?" Ezra said snapping out of his trance.

"Should we contact Kanan and tell him she here?" Max asked again.

"He in the middle of a battle right now he won't pick up, believe me." Ezra said while walking away from the two looking piss and frustrated. He walked a feet away and stop and stared in the direction the battle he was sure Kanan was having fun in. He couldn't see it from all the huge plants and trees in the way, so he couldn't get a view of it. But he can sure can hear it and he can tell it is fierce from all rapid firing from the clones and droids.

"Is he alright?" Ahsoka asked Max clearly worried for Ezra.

"Yeah… he just having a disagreement with his master."

"I know what that like." Ahsoka said while rolling her eyes, she can deeply relate to that she have disagreement with her master all the time.

"Yeah, well our orders is to stay here and protect the AT-TE's, im going to go check on something. If you could keep a close eye out on Ezra and make sure he don't anything… stupid. I would really appreciate it.

"Uhm… alright." Ahsoka said nervously.

There was no doubt Ahsoka like Ezra, she liked him every since she first saw him in the training room back at the Temple after a few weeks of being assigned to Anakin Skywalker as his padawan. Ahsoka never been the one to believe in love at first sight but she beginning to believe it now. For months, Ahsoka kept it a secret from everyone even her best friend Barriss because of the fear of being rejected and laughed at. But the main reason she kept it a secret was because she knew jedi were forbidden to have romantic relationships, but how are you suppose to stop loving somebody. I mean, you just can't make it go away it doesn't work like that.

Ahsoka approached Ezra nervously with rubbing her left arm with her right hand, wondering what to say to the boy she have a crush on.

"Hey, you okay." she asked him while joining him stare off into the direction battle was taking place.

"Yeah im cool… im cool." Ezra said while blushing and rubbing the back of his head with his hand.

"Max told me your having a 'disagreement' with your master."

"Yeah… Kanan he's just… get's under my skin sometimes, you know?"

"I know what you mean, I have fights with my master all the time."

"You do?..." Ezra said while raising a eyebrow.

"Yeah, my master Anakin keeps holding back. He keeps thinking im to weak to handle anything when I know I can take care of myself."

"Kanan the same way, he won't let me take part in any of the action. He just keeps on the side while he have all the fun. How am I suppose to become the jedi he wants me to be if he won't give me a chance to prove that I can do so much more.

"Masters… their a pain." Ahsoka said while shaking her head slowly back and forth.

"Tell me about it." Ezra said with a smirk on his face.

Ezra and Ahsoka both let out little chuckles finding it funny they can relate to each other. When both their gazes fell on each other Ahsoka couldn't help but blush. They both thought at the same time about telling the other about their loving feelings but they both was scared and hesitating to do. Ezra decided to tell her and get it over with, if he rejected at least he knew he tried.

"Ahsoka… I..."

The moment those words left Ezra mouth the distant blasters between clone troopers and droids stopped. It was very unusual, from all the battles Ezra witness the battles would rage on for hours especially with the Separatist. Why was this one so short? Max approach Ezra and Ahsoka also noticing and wondering why did it just got so quiet all the sudden?

"That was fast… that battle only lasted for like 40 to 50 minutes, did we win… or did we lose? Max asked wondering why did any of his clone brothers return from the fight.

"I don't know. We should check on them" Ezra said

"But we were ordered to stay back" Max protested.

"That doesn't matter if they got captured or worse… dead, we got to check if there okay. Max, you and the 6 troopers stay here and protect the AT-TE's. Ahsoka, me and you will go check on them."

"Yes, sir." Max said.

After that was said Ezra and Ahsoka sprinted deeper into the jungle, in the direction the battle took place hoping there weren't many casualties and Ezra master was alright. They ran pass huge colorful plants and trees, safety vaulted over logs that lay rested on the ground until they finally came across a few dead clone troopers laying dead on the ground. Along with Separatist droids parts and bodies all scattered across the battleground.

They could tell it was a fierce but short battle, a battle Ezra wish he took part in. By the look of the remains, the droids were overwhelmed. They didn't stand a chance, plus they didn't see Kanan body anywhere so that must mean he alive somewhere or captured. Ezra and Ahsoka felt something is off, unsettling, like this battle was way to easy or something.

"It looks like we won." Ahsoka said

"Yeah, but where Kanan and the rest of the troopers?" Ezra asked. While wondering where they went Ezra and Ahsoka took few minutes of roaming the battlefield checking the bodies of the clone troopers that laid dead on the ground hoping to find someone alive. After finding no one alive Ezra decided to do the most obvious thing and yell Kanan name and see if he could get a response.

Right before Ezra could get the word out of his mouth Ezra and Ahsoka heard light talking in the distance. They both glance at each other for a second than back at the direction the voices were coming from. They both knew they had to investigate but stay quiet and undetected just in case if the voices weren't Kanan and the troopers.

Ezra and Ahsoka crouch down and slowly and quietly made their way threw the giant plants and over the dead clone troopers and droids spread across the ground toward the voices. Every step they took the voices got louder and louder. Once they both approach a small hill they both knew the voices were coming right on the other side of the hill. They quietly made there way up to the top of it and once they reached to the top Ezra and Ahsoka laid there self's out on the ground on there stomachs finally knowing who were the voices.

"How many troopers did we lose?" Kanan asked one of the remaining clone troopers.

"About… 24 sir." The clone answered.

"Damn it." Kanan said clearly mad that he lost some very good men.

It was Kanan and a couple of clone troopers, they were the voices. They were fine and alive but suffered some casualties from the battle with the Separatist droids. Kanan and his troopers took refuge near a small water stream and were using this time to check each other for wounds. To Ezra everything is fine but to Ahsoka something was off, really off like she felt like the force is trying to tell her something… but what?

Ezra let out a sigh of relief and was about to get up on his feet and run down the hill to Kanan and the troopers but before he could get off his stomach and on to his feet. Ahsoka grabbed his wrist telling him silently to stay hidden, stay low, and stay undetected. For some reason she didn't want Kanan and the troopers know they were here.

"What? What wrong?"

"Something don't feel right… don't you feel it?" she asked, whispering.

Ezra took moment to give the force his full attention and he felt what she was feeling. Ezra realized she was right something is not right here, he felt like… something is coming but once again WHAT!? What is coming?

After a moment of giving into the force, Ahsoka took notice of a clone trooper reaching into one of his belt pockets pulling out his holo-pad communicator. She lightly nudge Ezra beside her and pointed in the direction the clone trooper was. Ezra notice what the trooper is doing and stared the trooper down wondering what is going on?

A small hooded hologram figure appeared on the clone trooper holo-pad and said something to him. There talk only lasted a few seconds and sadly Ezra and Ahsoka were to far away to make out what the figure on the holo-pad was saying or look like. After the trooper gave a simple nod to the hooded figure on his holo-pad he shut it off and stuffed it back down his belt pocket, the clone trooper made his way over to his fellow clone troopers brothers. Strangely, they all nodded to each other like they all knew it was time for something. They all surrounded Kanan from behind who was to busy enjoying the peace and beauty of the jungle around him to notice.

"Hey troopers, we should head back to the others, see if their alrig…" Kanan said but interrupted by the sound of…

Blaster Fire

In horror Ezra and Ahsoka watch Kanan own clone troopers shoot him dead multiple times in his back. Kanan didn't even see it coming, he dropped to his knees and laid down dead on his stomach in the small stream of water they were taking refuge by. His body laid dead and still in the stream while the blood from his body wash down it and the clone troopers weren't done their. They shot Kanan dead corpse repeatedly, over killing him making sure he was dead and dispose of.

Ezra couldn't move let alone stop the tears that were coming from his eyes and down his cheeks. His mouth hung open in complete horror, he just watched his master die right in front of him and by his own clone troopers who Kanan put his life and trust in and they just turned on him without a second thought.

He always thought Jedi were invincible, unbeatable, unstoppable and he always thought ever since he met him Kanan he was the greatest of them all but they just… took him out like he was nothing. Kanan wasn't invincible… he wasn't invincible, it hit Ezra like a ton of bricks when he realized even Jedi could be… killed.

Ahsoka couldn't believe what she just witness, it was savage betrayal. She knew Ezra was taking it hard and she knew he needed some time but they had to get out of there before the clone troopers knew of there presence. By judging how brutally they killed Kanan she could tell those clone troopers weren't interested in taking prisoners. They had to run and get back to the Jedi Temple on Coruscant and tell the council what happen, their no telling how many other clone troopers are taking part of this.

"Ezra… we have to go, we got to get out of here." Ahsoka said quietly while getting off her stomach and tugging Ezra arm lightly in the direction they came to get him on his feet to run back to the others.

Ezra clearly wasn't listening, his sorrow and sadness were to heavy to hold to listen to her. Shortly after her plea Ezra sadness and despair was replaced by mindless anger. His soul boiled in hate and the only thing he could think of is slaughtering those clones one by one and hear them yell in agonizing pain. Ezra grabbed his lightsaber from his holster on his hip and was about to ignite it and charge at them until Ahsoka grab his face from both of his cheeks and made him turn and look at her.

"Ezra, please don't." she said hoping by just looking in her eyes and away from the sight of Kanan dead body would calm him down and get his mind back on track.

Just looking in her eyes Ezra felt his angry go away and was replace with sadness once again. He put his lightsaber back in his holster and stood on his feet with Ahsoka hands dropping from the cheeks on his face down to her sides. Deep inside him he was fighting the erg to run down the hill he and Ahsoka stood at the top of and slaughter those clone troopers in the name of his master Kanan.

He took one last look at Kanan dead corpse hoping to see a sign of life but there was nothing just blood flowing from his lifeless body washing into the small stream of water stream it lied in. Taking his gaze away from the body of his master he saw one of the clone troopers who took part in killing Kanan stare dead at him.

"Look, on the hill. Blast them!" The trooper yelled.

Every single clone trooper open fire on Ezra and Ahsoka but the minute the two knew they been spotted they ran the opposite direction down the hill on the opposite side. They fully sprinted back to Max and the others clone troopers they left with AT-TE's, while dodging blaster fire from the clone troopers who were running after them still trying to kill them. After a mile of running Ezra and Ahsoka finally reached Max and other troopers with the enemy clone troopers a good few feet behind still pursuing them.

"MAX! MAX! We got to get out of here, the other troopers turned on…" Ezra was immediately cut off when he saw Max, the friend he and Kanan fought side by side with for many years and the clone troopers they left with him pointed there blasters at them.

"Max?... What are you?..." Ezra said in horror and disbelief that the man he looked at as a brother is betraying him.

"Blast them!" Max ordered.

Immediately after Max said that Ezra and Ahsoka drew their lightsabers from there hips igniting them and started to deflect Max and his troopers shots. What is going? Why are their clone troopers turning on them? First they kill Kanan, now them. Why? Why is this happening? Still deflecting their shots, Ahsoka notice the clone gunship that brought her here is still here landed, with no pilot in it.

"Ezra, follow and cover me!" Ahsoka yelled.

Ezra followed her to the gunship but sill deflecting shots with his lightsaber from Max and his troopers. Ahsoka jump in the clone gunship and since this wasn't her first time flying a aircraft like this she knew how to start it and get it off the ground. After a minute of Ahsoka starting up the gunship and Ezra deflecting shots the other troopers who killed Kanan finally caught up to them and join Max and his troopers in blasting Ezra. It was becoming to overwhelming for Ezra to deflect all these shots from all these use to be ally troopers.

"AHSOKA!..." Ezra yelled giving Ahsoka a sign to hurry up and get the gunship ready to go.

"Got it, get in. Quick!" Ahsoka yelled to Ezra over the sound of the enemy clone troopers blasters firing.

Ezra dived in and the door to the gunship slid closed preventing Ezra to get hit by the troopers firing. Ahsoka got the gunship into the air with the clone troopers still firing at them hoping to damage the gunship enough to get it to crash down on to the jungle surface, killing both padawans in the process. Ahsoka aimed the gunship in a direction away from the troopers and flew off, finally safe and out of the clone troopers firing range.

Panting heavily, Ezra slid his body down the closed gunship door wishing everything that just happen today was just a horrible horrible dream and he'll wake up in his room in the Jedi Temple at any second now. But sadly, no this was all real to real for his taste but he'll have to make it his taste sooner or later. It just a matter of time now.

"Ezra, are you okay?" Ahsoka asked him while looking back at him still flying the gunship.

Ezra didn't answer, done panting he just look down at the floor of the gunship. Clearly in deep thought and was divesting everything that just happened him, to her,… and his master.

"Ezra?…" Ahsoka said as a final plea for him to say something. Ezra took his long gaze from the floor to her eyes seeing nothing but worry in them. He truly didn't want her to worry but the feeling he is feeling right now is to painful to express. In memory of Kanan he had to stay focus, he had to keep moving.

"We got to get back to the Temple, tell the council what happened." Ezra said with a very strict mid-angry face.

"Are you o...?" Ahsoka asked a second time but was interrupted.

"I'm fine." Ezra said cutting her off and taking his gaze away from her eyes and back to the floor.

Ahsoka return her sight to the front, focusing on flying again but was still really worry about Ezra, she could feel the anger still deep within him. She couldn't blame him for being angry and how he reacted to Kanan death she could tell that Ezra was really close to Kanan. All she could do was hope that what they just witness and gone threw wouldn't change him into someone… bad. She really liked him and didn't want him to change who he truly was but all she could do is hope and stay by his side.

Ahsoka got the ship prep for space travel and push a button that will lock all the air inside the clone gunship in with them. Once done with that Ahsoka made her way up and enter and exited Felucia atmosphere. Before pushing the lever for hyperspace she tuned her head looking at Ezra who still sitting on the floor with his back toward the closed door of the gunship, with a endless gaze toward the floor. She decided to speak.

"Ezra… you want to talk." Ahsoka asked him hoping for a yes or something but all she got was silence. He needed time to himself, pushing Ezra to talk to her is not going to make things better. It best to give him this time of peace to him so he could wrap his mind around the horror and pain he just bared witness to.

But sadly, the 2 young padawans did not know this was just the beginning. The Clone Wars was about to end and a new war was about to start and life as a jedi is going to get ten times harder than it already was. If only they knew what happened at the Temple… if only they knew what happening to the Jedi.

Author Note - Ya'll won't believe how hard it was to write this first chapter of my story, it took me days. Anyway, im planning on writing the next chapter but it probably gonna take a couple of days. Tell me what ya'll think, if im honest with myself I think I did well for my first fanfiction story.