A/N: For whatever reason this chapter was a bit harder to write and went through several drafts. I think this is the best one and gets the point across the most so I hope you guys enjoy it. Went back and fixed some typos in the previous chapters, they should be all gone, but very possible I missed some. If you see more, let me know so I can change them :)

Thank you all so much for the reviews and support!

Also, 'Dialogue that looks like this is a different language.'

Summary: The explosion of the Sith Temple places Darth Vader and Ahsoka in a situation neither of them imagined possible. Now in an unfamiliar place that is eerily similar to Mortis, Darth Vader and Ahsoka must face the echoes of their past and work together to find their way back home.

Chapter Eight: Like Fireflies Memories Shine 2/2

Much to Ahsoka's surprise and then later disappointment, Vader was managing to get through the memories quicker than her. It didn't have anything to do with her competitive side, not really anyway. The Force around her told her that the only reason he was moving quickly through this process was because of how he was taking in the pain of the past.

When it came to the light side and dark side of the Force, there were a number of things which separated the sides. However what she was focused on was how either side dealt with pain. A light side user would feel the pain and then release it, let it go into the Force. A dark side user would feel the pain and keep it, use it as a source of strength.

As she had gotten older, she understood the need to keep emotions at bay, but she also knew that not all emotions could be easily let go of. Watching her former master now, she saw that he was holding onto that pain twisting it and focusing on the negativity it brought, which she supposed made sense. After all, he spent the past several years focusing on only the dark side, only allowing that into his heart. Ahsoka wasn't quite sure what this place was trying to test them on. The Daughter had mentioned they would face a similar trial to the Gathering, but she couldn't pinpoint what the lesson here was.

At her Gathering, she had to learn caution. Since she advanced quickly in her training, she had developed this idea in her mind that nothing could stop her or get in her way, part of the reason she used to take so many risks. And she still did a lot of reckless things after, but not nearly as much as she would have had she not learned otherwise from the Gathering.

Ahsoka looked down at her palm where she had one completed kyber crystal and half of another one, the completed one was white, but the part of the other one was almost yellow. It reminded her of her first shoto. A grin found it's way onto her face at the thought of her old lightsaber, she wondered if while they were here she would rebuild it and get to keep it. Ahsoka stretched out her hand for another firefly, but she froze when she noticed several of them beginning to swarm around. More surprised and curious than afraid, she watched as more fireflies appeared around them. She glanced to Ana- to Vader to see he was looking at them in mild irritation which she shouldn't have been surprised at.

"What are they doing," Vader called to her as the wind started to pick up.

Ahsoka looked around for a moment, it seemed thousands and thousands of the fireflies were swarming around, coming up from the grass. Truthfully she had no idea what they were doing, but she didn't feel the need to be a afraid. The Force wasn't giving her any answers, only that whatever was about to happen, was more than important. He appeared at her side, she hadn't realized he was moving closer and if not for her attention being elsewhere, she would have scolded herself for not being as aware of her surrounding. There was a nudge in the Force, so gentle she would have missed it if not for her trying to find it.

"I'm not sure," Ahsoka answered him in response to the expectant look on his face.

Her eyes looked to the tall bending grass, watching as the glowing fireflies continued to fly in a circle around the pair of them, all rising up creating a small tower almost around them, but leaving the top open for them to see the dark sky. A sense of peace settled onto the two Force users, followed by a spark or puff of anger, hate and pain. That was coming from Anakin- Vader, from Vader. When Ahsoka looked back at him, she could see his blood vessels through his skin. Only they weren't blue like they should be, but they were black and red.

He turned to look down at her, a question in his eyes. Ahsoka tilted her head up to the opening in the sky, wondering what was supposed to happen. Not entirely aware, she grabbed Vader's hand and despite the burning sensation she felt, she did not jerk away from him. In surprise he tried to pull away, but her grip only tightened. Cold reached into her body from his palm the warmth leaving her and going to him, then it stopped sharply leaving her feeling warmer and him cold. The veins on her skin turned to match the pale yellow glow of the fireflies surrounding them.

"What are you doing," Vader hissed at her.

Ahsoka shut her eyes, the Force singing faintly in her ears, "Guiding you."

Vader frowned, "Guiding me?"

"Yes," Ahsoka replied, eyes still closed as she gripped his hand tighter.

Ahsoka stretched out her senses, she connected with each firefly around her and overwhelming amount of memories played across her mind, too many for her to keep track of and several of them were not own. Gently, she pulled back her reached and focused more on the small nudge she had felt before, the one so faint she almost missed it. Her mind found it and she latched onto it, it felt as small as a thread and she knew if she wasn't careful it would slip out of her grasp. The thread was the bond she still had with Anakin, the master and padawan bond that was never fully severed. It had been quiet for years, but it had never truly broken.

Ahsoka took a steadying breath, "You have to meet me part way."

Vader didn't say anything to her at those words, he knew what she was asking of him, but he did not want to. That bond had never been fully destroyed, he had been able to connect with it for years believing that she had perished or that he was too far gone to have any way to touch it. However sensing her that day showed him otherwise, that string of a bond still existed between them. It seemed she wanted them to open that bond again, for him to meet her part way as he could tell she was already opening herself up to the bond. He could feel it and couldn't deny a part of him wanted to reach back to as well. The light of presence was both a beacon and repellent of the dark. He scolded himself for the desire, already being here with Skywalker's apprentice was making him weaker and loathed to be weak.

"You're not weak," Ahsoka said, her eyes opening to look up at him, "You're being stubborn and a little bit of a coward. You fear the feeling the light will bring you, so you are more than willing to hide in the darkness."

The fireflies light seemed to start fading as Vader hissed, "Do not pretend to know me."

Ahsoka's expression did into change, "I said it was impossible before, to know who you are behind that mask, but it's not. Touch the thread."

Vader could almost see the thread she was referring to in his mind, he see his own senses reaching for it, but he sharply pulled them back. He did not want her in his mind, though part him considered that if he were able to get into her mind, he would know more about the rebels. However the thought quickly left him. There would be no use for that information now when he had no way to report it.

"Please," Ahsoka started as the fireflies light continued to dim, "I have to guide you, you have to let me guide you. I'm not thrilled about you being in my head either, but this is the next step."

Vader didn't make a remark at her words, but the heat and somehow chill of his gaze made her uncomfortable. He looked so much like Anakin, he was Anakin, but those eyes and the way he spoke were her reminders that it wasn't the same man she knew, the same man she loved. Tapping into their old master and apprentice bond wasn't something Ahsoka really wanted to partake in. She could remember all the times during the rise of the Empire when she had called out to it, wanting to find Anakin, only for it to be empty. As if it never existed. That told her he was dead or he had really shielded himself beyond what she could reach through.

The only reason their beaten down bond was in tact now was because of when she reached out to sense the pilot that day with the Ghost. It bridged their connection, weakly, but it was something. He reached out with his senses and latched onto the thread of their bond. The fireflies around them seemed to glow brighter than before, almost making it seem as if it was the middle of the day despite the dark sky above telling them otherwise. Their fractured bond sparked to life with a myriad of images and voices of their pasts.

I'm a person and my name is Anakin.

Ahsoka Tano, that's me!

I can't do it mom, I just can't do it.

You won't hurt me cause you're a friend of the hollows.

Darkness seemed to swirl around them in time with the fireflies, Ahsoka could feel it's cold grasp as she shivered in her spot. In response, she felt Vader's hand tighten around her own only for him to disappear. When she opened her eyes, she was no longer in the center of swirling fireflies, but in a desert. Her head tilted up to the sky and she saw twin suns, her mind told her this must be Tattooine. The heat of the suns bore down on her, she squinted in the light and started to look around to gage her surroundings. When she called on the Force, she was disappointed to find that it wouldn't answer. It was still there, but not listening to her commands which sent a pulse of frustrations and worry through her.

"Okay Ahsoka, stay calm," Ahsoka said to herself, "We were brought here for some reason, let's find out why."

Head held high, Ahsoka started to walk forward in what she was guessing was west, but she couldn't be sure. After a few minutes, she spotted a city in the distance. Maybe someone there could tell her where she was. That filled her with some relief, at least s he wouldn't have to wander around here forever. While she didn't detest the suns in the sky or the sand beneath her as much as Anakin had, she certainly wasn't it's biggest fan. The thought of Anakin caused her fractured bond with him to ache. However when she focused on it, she found that it felt different, transparent. As if it was there, but not really.

A frown formed on her face. The bond ached once again, she felt an overwhelming amount of fear flowing through the broken bond. Ahsoka turned her gaze to her right, it was coming from that way. He must have been in trouble. Not wasting a moment, she took off running along the lands to find out where her mast- her former master was and why he felt so afraid. In seconds she appeared at a rocky ditch of some kind, it wasn't large by any means and Ahsoka knew that had she not been in her teenager body, she wouldn't be able to fit down there. The fear was palpable now, she felt the frantic energy.

"Hello," Ahsoka called getting into her knees to look into the chasm.

"Help," screamed the voice of a young boy, "Help! I, I can't get out!"

"Hold on, I'm coming," she called back.

Ahsoka started climbing down with relative ease, in moments she made it to the bottom of the chasm. Once there, she looked around to see where the voice had come from. Reaching out with her senses once again. The fear was coming from her left, so she followed it until she came across a boy who could hardly six years old sitting on the ground before her. Big ready blue eyes looked up at her, she knew those eyes.

"Hey," Ahsoka said coming to kneel before him, he inched back slightly and she froze, "It's okay, I won't hurt you."

The boy visibly swallowed, "You swear?"

Ahsoka nodded, "I swear. My name's Ahsoka, what's yours?"

The boy studied her for a moment before he answered her with a small and prideful smile, "My name's Anakin."

"It's, it's nice to meet you Anakin," Ahsoka said to him hoping her tone was even, "What happened here?"

Anakin frowned, "I was being chased by some Jawas. I hadn't meant to cause trouble, honest! But they were mad. Threw me down here."

"Well that was rude of them," Ahsoka commented, "Are you injured?"

"My ankle hurts," Anakin admitted with a pout.

Ahsoka nodded again, "May I see your ankle?"

Hesitantly, Anakin stretched out his leg so that she could look at his injured ankle. As gently as she could, she observed the ankle and found that it wasn't broken or sprained which was a relief. However he should avoid putting too much weight on it.

"Good news, not broken or sprained, but you might to avoid putting a lot of weight on for the next few hours," Ahsoka told him.

Relief washed over Anakin, "That's good. Else Watto would've been mad."

Ahsoka didn't recognize the name, but she had a feeling that this Watto must be Anakin's master and not in the way Obi Wan was. The only reason Ahsoka even knew that Anakin had been a slave was because Obi Wan told her on the Kiros mission and she never pressed Anakin on the subject. How could she ask him about that? She couldn't, so she never did.

"That's good, now we just have to get out of here," Ahsoka said rising to her feet as she looked up at the rock crevices, "If you hold onto my back, I can get us both out of here."

Anakin looked up a bit uneasily, but nodded, courage seeking through the bond. The reason for his unease was clear, he was worried she would drop him or they would both fall. There was some mild distrust in him, yet at the same time, he seemed more than willing to trust her, wanted to trust her even. Ahsoka turned to look down at him, she could see clearly that this boy was her master and she wondered what this was about. It didn't seem like he was apparition, but why would she have been brought into the memory and interacting with it? She sincerely doubted that the Force sent her back in time to this one moment to get him out of the chasm.

"I won't let you fall," Ahsoka told him as she helped him onto his feet,

"I know," he replied softly,

Ahsoka bent down so that Anakin could climb onto her back, once he was secure, she started climbing up. The added weight didn't bother her at all, he was probably to light for his age and she felt some anger stir in her. Learning her master had once been a slave had filled her with sorrow and as the news of it settled into her, she felt anger over it. When Anakin told her that his mother had been auctioned off like the slaves they saw, more anger had reached her. The fact that slavery still existed had filled her with disgust.

"I'm sure your mom is worried sick," Ahsoka commented as she kept climbing.

Anakin nodded, "Yeah. She worries, a lot. I try to not make her worry. 'Specially when it comes to pod races. I'm the only human who can."

Ahsoka struggled not to flinch at that. Of course she knew that Anakin had pod raced, he talked about them to her a lot and told her he was the only human who could do it. When she first heard it as a Padawan, she thought it was incredible and exciting. Now that she was much older, she couldn't begin to describe how terrible that was considering he was a child.

"That's certainly dangerous," Ahsoka said as she made it out of the chasm.

Anakin shrugged, "It's what Watto wants so I gotta do it."

Ahsoka tightened her grip just a bit more, "Watto sounds like a sleemo."

"He is a sleemo," Anakin told her matter factly, "But he's better than Gardulla the Hutt. He doesn't get that mad if you're late for check ins."

"Yeah," Ahsoka said softly, she looked off to the side, "Let's get you home before that sand storm comes."

Anakin turned his head in that direction, she felt his worry as he spoke, "Do you have a place to stay in the storm? You could stay with me and my mom."

Ahsoka grinned, "Thank you, but I have some place to go stay and wouldn't want to trouble you."

"It'd be no trouble, you helped me so I should help you," Anakin told her earnestly.

"It's okay, you've already helped me," Ahsoka said quietly.

Then she started running, in minutes she had made it into town where Anakin guided her to his home. Once there, she set him down on his feet. The door opened a moment later to reveal a woman with dark hair, dark skin and kind eyes that lit up at the sight of Anakin. This was his mother.

"Ani," she said relieved to see him, "Where have you been? You could have missed check in."

"I got stuck in a ditch, Ahsoka helped me out. Can she stay with us until the storm ends, please," Anakin asked with a pout.

Before his mother could answer, Ahsoka spoke, "No it's quite alright. I have somewhere I need to be."

Anakin frowned, "Are you sure?"

"I'm sorry, I have to get back to my, my older brother," Ahsoka told him gently, her heart breaking at her own words,

"If you're certain," his mother said, looking at her with a too kind expression. "Go on inside Ani."

Anakin gave Ahsoka a quick hug, "Thanks for your help before. Maybe I'll see you again?"

Ahsoka gave him a smile, "I think we will."

Anakin's grin was blinding. Without another word, he made his way inside, but his mother did not move. The woman, who's name she didn't know, was watching her, studying her almost.

"You're his apprentice," the woman said to her with a small smile, "Ahsoka Tano."

Ahsoka blinked, unsure of how she should rely to that. This was supposed to be some kind of vision right? But if that was the case, why would that be a question? The Force told her she had been supposed to guide him, where she didn't know, but she guessed she was meant to guide him here. Had that actually been Anakin? That she had to guide him through this memory? But why? It couldn't have been a vision.

The woman placed her hands on her shoulders, "A vision for you perhaps, not for me. I've lived this day before, but Anakin came home beaten because he missed check in… you brought him to me before that pain could get him. The first time the pain ever took root in his spirit."

Ahsoka frowned, "I, I don't understand."

"I don't think I could explain it either," said his mother, her smile was heartbreakingly grateful, "Thank you for looking after my son. Please, please try to bring him back to me."

Before Ahsoka could reply, the woman and the area around her turned transparent until it completely vanished, leaving her alone in the dark, then blinded by the light.

Ahsoka's eyes snapped open, with a quick assessment she found she on her back, her hand still holding Anakin's. When she turned to look at him, his eyes were closed and fluttering. Still in a vision. She gripped his hand tightly in her own and shut her eyes, letting the Force settle around her and waited for him to return to her.

Vader took a deep breath as he looked around, wondering where in the galaxy he was. Wasn't Ahsoka supposed to guide him, so why wasn't she here and why was he lost? Part of him considered he was likely still on the Mortis like world and this was another vision, but it didn't feel quite the same. Visions usually weren't this immersive, but he found that this world had given more immersive visions than he was used to, so anything was possible. The surrounding area was that of a forest, in the distance he could see a field that reminded him of turugrass. If that was turugrass then it would be safe to assume that he was still on the strange planet with Ahsoka or he was on Shilli.

He had taken a step to head to wards the grass when he heard a fearful and angry scream of a small child. His yellow gaze snapped in the direction do the cry, in the distance he could just barely make out what looked to be pirates running. Not bothering to wait, he started to run towards them as well. It must be important, what other reason would he have been brought here? When he tried to reach out with the Force, he found it muddled and not very clear except for a spark of something he couldn't place.

In moments he had caught up with the pirates, but remained out of sight for a moment to see what was going on. The pirates, Weequay that reminded him of Hondo and his crew, had surrounded something, no someone. Vader remained hidden from view, he peered around a tree to get a better look and saw a child, a Togruta. One pirate lunges for the child, but they ducked down under him and tried to run, only for a different pirate to grab their arm.

"Not so fast little girl," said the Weequay who pulled her back.

The child cried in anger and fear in their native tongue, 'Let go of me!'

The Force reacted, a small blast that was enough to get him to drop her and she took off running right by his tree. The world slowed for a moment. Big blue eyes looked at him, wide with worry and fear. Her skin was burnt orange, her markings and montral's not defined, but he would know her anywhere. It was Ahsoka. She ran to the nearest tree and climbed up as quick as she could, hoping it would deter the pirates. One of them followed her, even caught her ankle for a second, but Vader pulled him down. They would not touch her. He wasn't sure what this vision was, but he had a feeling he needed to get out of here or at the very least away from the pirates.

"Back off," said one of the pirates, "The little brat's ours."

Vader hissed at him, "I highly doubt that. Leave her alone, before I make you."

The pirates, he counted four, laughed at him. One wearing a red shirt stepped forward, the leader he guessed, "You'd make us? Well let me tell you-"

Vader didn't let him finish. While the Force wasn't responding to him like it should have, he knew how to fight without it. All it took was a punch, kick and grabbing ahold of his arm and turning his body to flip him to the ground. The other three pirates loved to attack, Vader was ready for them. Having his flesh appendages back and not being in constant pain certainly had it's advantages. His body almost went on autopilot as he fell into the rhythm of the fight and after a two minutes, the pirates were running away. A smirk grew on his face, that was easy. He lifted his head to see the Togruta girl sitting on a branch, watching him with a look of awe.

"I won't hurt you," Vader told her, "Why don't you come down from there?"

'You talk funny,' was her reply.

Vader blinked, maybe she doesn't know basic and tried to remember anything he knew in Togruti. Many years ago when Ahsoka had been his apprentice, there was some holiday on Shilli important to her culture and he celebrated with her. He had asked her to teach him some things in her native tongue, she had lit up like fireworks. It wasn't often she got to speak it or practice it since there weren't that many Togruta around and she'd spent most of her life in the Temple away form the language. He'd picked up understanding it fairly well, even spent the months after she left the Order trying to understand it better bevause it made him feel closer to her. Skywalker really was pathetic.

'I mean no harm,' he said uneasily in her language, 'Get down.'

Little Ahsoka considered this for a moment, 'Will you hurt me?'

Vader creased his brow, 'Said I wouldn't.'

'Swear,' she asked, her little eyes seemed to get bigger,

Vader resisted the urge to roll his eyes, as if him swearing would make a difference. He just nodded, 'Yes, swear. Get down.'

A small smile formed on her face, 'Catch!'

Vader reacted instantly as she jumped from the branch to him, he caught her with ease, 'That was foolish.'

'Fun,' Ahsoka told him laughing, 'Thanks for the help. Those guys were mean.'

"Indeed," he remarked, in her language he asked, 'What did they want?'

Ahsoka looked up at him sadly, she whispered to him like it was a big secret, 'Take me away, use the hollows for bad things.'

Hollows, that was a name many Togruta had used to describe the Force. He had no idea why, Ahsoka had told him once before, but the memory was so far gone he didn't bother trying to recall it. What he did focus on was the rest of her sentence, that the pirates were here to take her away. It was dangerous for Force sensitive children to not be with the Jedi, as they were often target for criminals. It was the responsibly of the Jedi to get them as soon as possible, to protect them.

He knew that Master Plo Koon had brought Ahsoka to the Temple, but he thought the master had gotten to her before the imposters could get her. Perhaps the master thought he had and was mistaken. This was a vision, yet part of him felt like it wasn't. When he reached out slightly with the Force, it answered his question this time and told him what he hadn't expected. He wasn't on the planet, Resso, anymore, he was really on Shilli and this was padawan, only not her. A memory, a snippet from another time.

'Well they're gone now, they can't hurt you or make you do bad things,' Vader told her honestly.

Ahsoka rested her head on his shoulder, 'Cause you keep me safe.'

Vader frowned as he looked at her, 'I will.'

He wasn't surprised by how much he meant that. Through the Force he sensed her trust in him, as if she hadn't trusted anyone so much in her life and that was tearing at what remained of his heart. How could this child, apparition or memory, trust him? Just because he scared off those pirates didn't mean he deserved to be trusted. Yet it felt more than right. Holding onto her closely, he started walking forward in where he guessed the village she had come from was. For a few minutes the walk was quiet, he made it to where he could see the village when she started to speak to him.

'You're nice,' Ahsoka told him with shining blue eyes.

'I'm not,' he argued, 'I'm not nice at all.'

Ahsoka pouted, 'Yes you are. You have light inside.'

Vader felt every part of him freeze at those words, 'That's not possible.'

'It is,' Ahsoka said stubbornly, she poked his chest, 'In there. Light inside. You gotta let it out.'

Vader opened his mouth to argue, to protest, but no words left him as she sent a wave of the Force to him, showing him where the light was. Anger should have reached him, he should have been angry that there was even a speck of light left in him, but all reached him was sorrow and… hope. He didn't know it, but his yellow eyes had turned blue as he looked at her, watching her expression filled with such confidence and certainty. There shouldn't have been any light left.

'You need to go,' Vader told her as he set her down on the ground.

She latched onto his hand, 'I miss you. Will I see you again?'

Vader held her gaze, 'What does your heart tell you?'

'That I will,' Ahsoka said with a big smile.

Vader gave her a faint smile, 'Then we will see each other again. Off you go and don't look back.'

Ahsoka nodded once. Sadly, she let go of his hand with a pout and turned away. Squaring her shoulders, she walked away from him out of the treeline and into the gathering spot of the village. Vader watched her for several moments, his eyes scanned over the other Togruta and landed on a Kel Dor man… Master Plo Koon. Surprise flooded him, though he shouldn't have been shocked. This was somekind of memory, vision or whatever, it brought him to her to help her, but the question was why? Why would he be brought here to before she was found by Koon? What reason was there for this? The fireflies made little sense to him, but this even less so. He hadn't been there when she was found, so why was he seeing this memory and interacting with it? Had he changed it and if he had, what originally happened?

The Kel Dor met his gaze then and Vader froze when he heard the deep voice in his mind, "Because originally she gotten trapped. Scared out of her wits and only barely managed to sneak away before their ship launched. You've now spared her that terror."

Vader opened his mouth to speak, but no words came. The edges of his vision turned black and then he saw nothing. However he heard her voice, Ahsoka's voice start to speak to him again.

"Let me guide you. You have to let me show you the way."

Vader was hesitant, he was so hesitant, but he felt himself nod. His sight returned to him and he found himself lying on the ground, likely in the turugrass on Resso with Ahsoka still holding his hand. He didn't turn to look at her, his attention was on the dozen or so fireflies remaining. When he focused on one, he could see a new memory, a happy one, a light one, shining against the darkness of his mind. As pain had been lifted from him it seemed like, but why?

Three kyber crystals hovered above them, one a vibrant purple that moved towards Vader, the others were a pale yellow and white one that floated towards Ahsoka. They got their crystals back, but now they would need to bond with their crystals and then they could make their lightsabers soon. However Ahsoka had one thing she needed to make sure Vader, Anakin, understood about this.

Ahsoka sat up, but did not reach for her crystals as she spoke, "If we're going to get out of this, you have to let the memories shine as they were."

Vader didn't say anything for awhile, but after a few moments, he told her, "I understand."