this is inspired by one of my favourite songs from wicked the musical! i've included a yt video here so there's an audio to kinda help set the scene. it'll be fairly obvious when to hit play, but i'll leave a bracketed () comment regardless. btw, MDjarin17, i think you'll like this one :D
ps: let's pretend the wrong jedi arc didn't happen, and that padawanship is like high school for the jedi, meaning once the "final exams" are passed (which is really just the knighting trials), the padawan is a padawan no longer and becomes an official jedi knight! let's go :)
***
Anakin Skywalker squirmed in his seat.
He just couldn't stay still, not when today was such an important occasion.
Today was her graduation. All of the senior Padawans were graduating from the Jedi Academy and would become fully-fledged Jedi Knights.
He was so, so proud of her.
His Snips had gone from a cocky, headstrong youngling to a thoughtful, kind, and mature leader.
She'd been through and endured so much, yet no matter how difficult things had gotten, she had always pushed through, the smile on her face hardly ever wavering.
Had he mentioned how proud he was of her?
But while there was an overwhelming amount of pride coursing through his veins, it wasn't alone. Longing and sadness were two very unfortunately insistent travel buddies.
He wouldn't see her as often anymore.
They wouldn't train together as much anymore.
They wouldn't share a room anymore.
They wouldn't make as many memories together anymore, from this moment on.
But as her name was called, and she made her way across the stage to him, Anakin banished those thoughts to the recesses of his mind.
"Ahsoka," he breathed when she finally came to a stop before him, "Congratulations."
"Thank you, Master," she replied softly, love and gratitude pulsing across their bond. "For everything."
"You're welcome... my old Padawan."
And in a blur of bright blue, Ahsoka's Padawan beads were cut cleanly in half and fell into her open hand.
"Ahsoka Tano," Anakin declared to the hall full of students, "Jedi Knight."
The hall exploded with cheers.
***
Unbeknownst to the other Knights and Masters, Ahsoka and her best friend Serena had talked to the Order's music teacher and arranged a special performance for themselves and the rest of their graduating class. As the last newly appointed Jedi Knight walked down the steps of the stage, a soft melody began to play over the concert hall speaker. (music on!)
The new Knights and their former Masters looked at each other in confusion- this wasn't a part of the ceremony. What was happening?
Until Serena stood up, mic in hand as she slowly made her way to the stage.
"I've heard it said, that people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn, and we are led to those who help us most to grow if we let them. And we help them in return.
Well, I don't know if I believe that's true... but I know I'm who I am today because I knew you.
Like a comet pulled from orbit, as it passes the sun,
Like a stream that meets a boulder halfway through the wood.
Who can say if I've been changed for the better? But, because I knew you... I have been changed for good."
During the interlude, Ahsoka stood, smiling radiantly as she, too, made her way to the stage where Serena awaited. She lifted her mic to her mouth and continued the duet.
"It well may be, that we will never meet again in this lifetime
But let me say before we part, so much of me is made of what I learned from you; you'll be with me, like a handprint on my heart
And now whatever way our stories end, I know you have rewritten mine, by being my friend!"
Her eyes met Anakin's, a soft smile now on her lips, non-verbally communicating her gratitude to the mentor who took her under his wing, the person, who, with time, had become her best friend. Her brother.
Pride, love, and admiration surged through their bond.
"Like a ship blown from its mooring, by a wind in the sea. Like a seed dropped by a sky bird in a distant wood. Who can say if I've been changed for the better? Because I knew you. I have been changed for good."
The two friends continued their duet, mesmerizing the crowd with the power of their message and the beauty of their voices. Their voices complemented each other perfectly, proven by their effortless split into melody and harmony:
"Who can say if I've been changed for the better? I do believe I have been changed for the better.
Because I knew you.
Because I knew you."
Ahsoka's eyes landed on Obi-Wan this time.
"Because I knew you... I have been changed... for good."
With the final few chords of the piano accompaniment gently fading away, the magic of the music remained for a few brief moments, until the silence gave way to well-deserved thunderous applause.
***
Ahsoka was excitedly talking with Serena after the ceremony when a hand came gently came to rest on her shoulder.
The latter raised an amused eyebrow. "I'll give you guys some space. I should go find my own master again anyway, she'll be expecting me."
Ahsoka turned to see Obi-Wan and Anakin standing behind her, both of their eyes unusually glassy. "Masters," she smiled.
Anakin made the first move, dipping his head ever so slightly. "Knight Tano."
"I am very proud of your- oomph-" Obi-Wan tried, failing as he got cut off halfway through his sentence by Ahsoka wrapping both of her Masters in a tight hug. Neither Jedi Master hesitated in returning the affectionate gesture, pure, unfiltered joy radiating off of all three of them.
***
so we already know who's the one taking all the aesthetic and professional-looking photos while somehow managing to film the ceremony on a different holocamera, while the other switches between not doing anything to bawling his eyes out... your guess
also i was literally finishing the last few lines when i suddenly realized i forgot about padmé........ :( she's such an important figure in ahsoka's life and sees her as a daughter; there's no way that she would miss this, even if it was jedi only. she would sneak in or something. plus, she has ani and obi on the inside who could help. she would also 100% ditch a senate meeting for this, change my mind. im too tired to add her in, plus i kinda wanted this to be like ahsoka-anakin-obi wan centric...
final note #1- siNCE ahsoka is now a Knight, the events of the wrong jedi & ROTS did not happen, anakin is finally a Jedi Master. he can die happy now.
final note #2- i think im also gonna start posting chapters on a schedule, assuming i can actually follow it. not yet sure whether im gonna update once or twice a week, but certainly at least once for sure.
comments and votes always make my day, and leave reqs (rex geddit-) if u have any! :D
this a/n is getting far too long; toodaloo!!
- jazzy