The battle raged on Yerbana. Grim and Cody were leading the 212th.

Just where was Obi-Wan?

Grim was having a harder time than usual given the droids preference for explosions rather than blaster fire for this battle. She deflected the shots when they did fire, but she could only dodge the explosions and try to save as many of the men as she could.

A missile was heading straight for Cody and Grim now. Grim felt herself freeze in fear, and Cody braced himself.

Except the missile never hit them. Grim watched as Obi-Wan leapt into the battle and cut the entire missile in half.

Her jaw nearly hit the floor.

Three years later, Obi-Wan could still impress her.

"General!" exclaimed Cody, surprised.

"Get down!" Obi-Wan told them.

He covered them with Grim helping as they hid behind some rubble for cover.

"Well, I can see things are going splendidly on this front," Obi-Wan commented.

"It's no good. We can't locate the tactical droid. He's staying out of sight," Cody told him.

They covered themselves as another explosion went off nearby.

"Where is Skywalker?" Grim growled angrily.

"I'm right here," Anakin replied casually, walking over to them as if they weren't in the middle of a battle. "What are you doing down there?"

"We are taking cover. Now get down!" Obi-Wan ordered him.

"You're not serious. There's only a thousand droids down there, tops."

"Skywalker-" Grim started.

"Don't worry about it Tiny," Anakin told her.

"What are you doing, Anakin? Where's Captain Rex?" Obi-Wan asked him.

"We already finished our battle, so we decided to come help with yours," Anakin replied, getting on top of the rubble they were taking cover behind.

"You're overdoing it. Again!" Obi-Wan told him.

Anakin turned around and knelt on top of the rubble to face Obi-Wan. "Master, I mean no disrespect. If you want, I can hide here with you, and we can let the people in the city suffer longer."

"Skywalker we both know-" Grim tried to argue, immediately rushing to Obi-Wan's defense.

Anakin didn't let her finish. "Or we could do things my way and help them now."

Obi-Wan sighed. "All right. I know better than to try and stop you. What's your plan this time?"

"Stay here," Anakin replied. He leapt off to enact his plan.

"Why do I know his plan?" Grim muttered to herself.

"Because you've seen this before," Obi-Wan replied.

Grim rolled her eyes but felt a smile tug at her lips.

Yes, she had seen all of this before.

Which was why she was both brimming with excitement and anticipation. She was going to see Ahsoka soon, but at the same time, the ending was beginning.

The droids all aimed at Anakin, but before they could fire, Anakin began to speak.

"Hold your fire! Hold your fire."

Grim, Obi-Wan, and Cody all popped their heads out to see what Anakin was doing this time.

Anakin went on, "I have come to surrender. Your forces fought valiantly and I must admit we are overmatched by your superior firepower."

As Anakin spoke Grim rolled her eyes, and began mocking him. Moving her mouth with his words in exaggerated facial expressions. She moved her hand mockingly as well. The Padawan completely ignored the frustrated expression Obi-Wan gave her.

Anakin still wasn't done talking. "I congratulate you, for I have fought in many battles on many planets..."

Anakin continued on with his surrender speech. Grim continued on mocking him. Annoyed by Anakin's antics.

Finally the tactical droid appeared. At once he saw through Anakin's trap, although it was too late. The Jedi already cut the droid in half. The 501st joined the battle which was now resumed, but in the favor of the Republic thanks to Skywalker.

"General?" Cody asked.

"Yes, Cody. You may join the fun as well."

"Yes, sir."

With that the 212th rushed back into the battle, joining with the 501st.

Obi-Wan and Grim walked over to Anakin. "Bravo, Anakin, you've done it again," Obi-Wan told him.

"Oh, I can't take all the credit. Your state of helplessness really sold them on my surrender talk," Anakin replied.

Grim rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. But she couldn't help the tiny hint of a smile. "No problem, Skywalker."

"Always happy to help, my friend," Obi-Wan replied.

Anakin smiled at the two and they smiled back. That was when Anakin's comm beeped. "Skywalker here, what is it, Admiral?" Anakin asked.

"Sir, we've received a transmission from someone using your subspace frequency 'Fulcrum'," Yurlean informed him.

Fulcrum?

Ahsoka!

Grim grinned widely at the news. She hadn't heard or seen Ahsoka in several months. Not since they had split up, Ahsoka leaving the Order and Grim staying.

"I think I know who it is," Grim told the other two.

Anakin looked at her, wondering how Grim would know such a thing.

"You best take this transmission on the ship," Yurlean said. "All three of you."

On the way to the ship Grim was brimming with joy. Anakin and Obi-Wan both noticed the sudden shift in mood of the young padawan.

Since the Outer Rim sieges had pulled them away from their home Grim had been swirling with fear. She seemed to be anticipating something awful was going to happen. Now her stress and fear had nearly instantly dissolved.

As the three Jedi walked over to answer the transmission Grim was practically skipping. A bounce in her every step.

"What's so important you brought us all the way back here?" Anakin asked.

The three stopped seeing Ahsoka.

Grim's smile grew wider, and she also felt some heat rush to her cheeks. Ahsoka looked so beautiful, even if it was only a hologram.

"Hello, Master. It's been a while," greeted Ahsoka.

Grim felt her smile shrink slightly when Ahsoka only acknowledged Anakin.

"Ah- Ahsoka. Wha-" Anakin was stunned, and nearly at a loss for words. He started chuckling. "I don't believe it! How are you? Where are you? Are- are you okay?"

"I'm all right, thank you," said Ahsoka. Her gaze shifted to Grim for a moment. "I wish we had more time to talk," she shifted her gaze back to all three of them. "But I have urgent information for all three of you."

"What is it, Ahsoka?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Lady Bo-Katan and I have located the renegade Sith Lord, Maul. And if we move swiftly we believe we can capture him," she informed them.

Grim's smile faded for a moment.

No, not yet.

The three Jedi were walking in the hangar to meet up with Ahsoka.

"It all makes sense now," said Anakin.

"What?" asked Obi-Wan.

"If Ahsoka hadn't left the Order then she wouldn't have been where she needed to be," said Anakin.

"That's one way to look at it, I suppose," said Obi-Wan.

Anakin ran in front of Obi-Wan. "It's the only way to look at it. We're going to capture Maul, finally. I thought you would be more excited about this."

"I am cautiously optimistic," Obi-Wan replied.

"What about you Grim?" Anakin asked her.

"Don't drag me into this," replied Grim. "There's more to everything, and you're not exactly seeing it all," she said.

First the Outer Rim sieges.

Now Ahsoka and Maul.

Only one more thing was left, and she could feel it was approaching quickly.

No, deep down she knew it had already begun. They just hadn't been dragged into it yet.

"What's that supposed to mean? I thought you would be excited to see Ahsoka again too." Anakin said.

Grim gave him a sad and gentle smile. "I am, Anakin."

The ship Ahsoka was in arrived in the hangar.

As the ramp lowered to reveal Ahsoka, Grim was already in the middle of running over to her. Ahsoka wasn't even halfway down when Grim wrapped her in an embrace.

She lifted Ahsoka up and spun around for a moment before letting go and laughing embarrassedly. "I'm sorry- I'm just so glad to see you again Ahsoka."

Ahsoka smiled at her, "I'm glad to see you as well Grim." Her soft smile fell gently. "But unfortunately we don't have time right now. We'll have to catch up another time."

Grim felt her heart sink. "There may not be another time, not this time," she whispered.

"I'm sorry," Ahsoka replied.

Grim sighed and went back to standing by Obi-Wan and Anakin. Bo-Katan stood by Ahsoka. "Every minute we waste here gives Maul an opportunity to slip away," she told them.

"We understand," said Obi-Wan. "Please follow me."

The group of five went into the war room. Ahsoka explained the situation to the Jedi. "Bo-Katan had been tracking Maul's movements for several months. I was able to obtain some transmission codes from the Pykes on Oba Diah, which helped her pinpoint some of his previous locations."

"What were you doing on Oba Diah?" Anakin asked her.

"That's a long story and not really relevant right now," she replied.

"What is relevant is that we know Maul is on Mandalore in the city of Sundari," Bo-Katan interrupted.

"You're certain of this?" Obi-Wan asked.

"He arrived two days ago," confirmed Bo-Katan.

"So why not take him yourself?" Obi-Wan asked. "Or, to be more specific, what do you want from the Republic?"

Bo-Katan and Ahsoka looked at each other. Ahsoka nodded and Bo-Katan spoke. "I don't have the numbers needed for a siege," she admitted. "Without a complete lockdown of the city, Maul will escape again. That's why I'm proposing a joint operation. If we are successful, you'll have Maul and I'll have Mandalore."

Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Grim all shared a look.

Obi-Wan replied, "if Republic forces aid you in your assault, it would break treaties that are one hundred years old. We will be effectively drawn into yet another war."

"What's one more?" Bo-Katan.

"What's one more?" scoffed Grim. "I don't know if you know this, but the Republic has nearly been torn apart by our current one. We don't have the resources, we're spread thin enough as it is."

Bo-Katan glared at Grim, and Ahsoka looked at her with a trace of disappointment. Grim still stood her ground.

"Grim's right, we still haven't finished our first one," Anakin agreed.

"I will advise the Jedi Council of this development," Obi-Wan said instead. He turned to do just that.

"There's no time!" snapped Bo-Katan. Obi-Wan turned around as Bo-Katan continued. "Maul's influence on Mandalore is destroying my people! He murdered their ruler, my sister!"

Before Bo-Katan could continue, Grim snapped. "Who put him in that position? Who allowed him into Mandalore? Because it sure as hell wasn't us, if I remember correctly you were part of that. And don't give the bullshit of Maul murdering Satine, how long were you trying to do that same shit? Your argument is invalid, Kryze."

"That's all in the past now," Bo-Katan replied, angrily.

"It doesn't erase the truth," replied Grim, matching her anger.

"The Council will decide what our course of action will be," Obi-Wan said, breaking up the argument between the mandalorian and his Padawan.

Obi-Wan left and so did Bo-Katan leaving Ahsoka alone with Anakin and Grim. "I see you three certainly haven't changed," Ahsoka said.

Anakin chuckled, "is that a bad thing?"

Ahsoka smirked.

"Come on, I have a surprise for you," said Anakin. He left the room knowing Ahsoka would follow.

For a moment it was just Grim and Ahsoka alone. Ahsoka stayed without following Anakin.

She walked over to Grim. They were standing close together. Ahsoka reached out her hand and carrassed Grim's cheek. "I told you we'd see each other again," she whispered. She placed a light kiss on Grim's lips.

Tears filled Grim's eyes. "But after this we may not," she replied. "Can we stay like this for a little longer? Pretend that this war doesn't exist." A tear fell down her cheek.

Ahsoka wiped it away. "I'm sorry Grim, but we both know the war has already pulled us apart."

"I know," whispered Grim. "I wish I didn't. I wish I didn't know how much the war is about to steal from us. What it's already stolen from us."

They stood there for a moment quietly.

"At least we got to steal some time away from the war," Ahsoka whispered at last.

Grim chuckled sadly and softly. "Yes, at least we got to steal from the war. Now I think you should see what surprise Anakin has for you."

Ahsoka stepped away. "Yes. Are you not going to come as well?" she asked her.

"The war is coming to an end, Ahsoka," Grim told her. "And if things stay the same it won't be a happy one."

Ahsoka looked at her sadly. "I see, you're still writing the end."

"Someone has to," replied Grim.

"You don't have to do it alone," Ahsoka reminded her.

"I know," replied Grim.

Ahsoka turned to catch up with Anakin, but stopped for a moment to catch another look at her. "Grim," she started.

"Go, before I have to say goodbye," said Grim..

She didn't want to see Ahsoka any longer. She couldn't be reminded that she may never see her again.

Ahsoka nodded sadly and left.

Grim watched. Tears filled her eyes. The ending was upon them, and Grim couldn't bear to tell Ahsoka farewell.

Because Grim knew there was the chance that she may not survive the final days of the war.

Alarms began to blare suddenly. Obi-Wan ran back into the room, surprised to see Grim still there. Grim looked at Obi-Wan with a resigned fearful look. "Palpatine's been captured by Grievous, hasn't he?"

"Yes," Obi-Wan confirmed.

"So it begins," she whispered.

Obi-Wan gave her a concerned look. He didn't know what she meant by that but he had a sinking feeling that it wasn't good. He left to let Anakin know.

Grim leaned on a wall to stop herself from falling over. Tears swam in front of her eyes. Her heart was pounding in her chest. She felt sick. Panic filled her and she felt sick.

This was it. She knew this was it. This was the ending and the beginning all in one.

A strangled cry escaped her. She looked up at the ceiling as tears fell down her face. She squeezed her eyes shut. This didn't stop the tears. Her hands shook at her sides.

Three years of war. Three years of fighting. Three years of sacrifice.

Three years.

Now it was time. This was the very moment where everything unraveled.

Who would win? Who would lose?

Who would live? Who would die?

In the end, would it be possible to survive?