A/N: alternate ending to Ahsoka's trial in "The Wrong Jedi" arc. Enjoy. 😈

***

"I will find them, Ahsoka," Anakin promised. "I will find the real perpetrator and bring them to justice."

***

Escorted by multiple members of the Coruscant Guard, Ahsoka walked nervously onto the podium, looking around at the hostile Senate. Vice-Chancellor Mas Amedda thrusted his staff against the ground loudly; the trial had officially begun.

"Ahsoka Tano," Supreme Chancellor Palpatine boomed. "You have been charged with sedition against the Jedi Order and the Republic itself. This Senate will henceforth decide your fate. Prosecution, you may begin."

Admiral Tarkin stepped forward, a camera following his every move. His Force signature radiated confidence; he was sure that this court would be in his favour. Ahsoka shot daggers at the despicable man.

"Former Padawan Tano. I shall prove that you were the mastermind behind the attack on the Jedi Temple. Once your accomplices carried out your orders, you eliminated them, one by one. Members of the court," Tarkin thundered, "I hereby ask that the full extent of the law be brought down upon you, including the penalty of death."

Senator Amidala refuted Tarkin's words. "Look at the facts. Letta Turmond called Ahsoka to her cell to reveal the Mastermind of the Jedi Temple. Letta told Ahsoka she was afraid. She said that the mastermind was a Jedi, but before she could reveal the Jedi's name, Letta Turmond was strangled to death by way of the Force. Why would Ahsoka kill Letta, with a method that would so obviously tie the murder to her? Members of the court, a Jedi may be the mastermind behind this attack, but that Jedi is not Ahsoka Tano! You are prosecuting the wrong Jedi!"

"Well said, Senator Amidala," Tarkin sneered, adding a sarcastic slow clap. "However, if she is indeed innocent like you claim, then why was she seen conspiring with known Separatist terrorist Assajj Ventress?"

"Ventress set me up!" Ahsoka retorted hotly. "My Master will prove that!"

"Then where is your Master?"

"He is trying to find the real culprit!"

"Then maybe he should be looking at you."

Palpatine stood up. "Surely," he began, "Many of you are looking at this former Jedi and think, 'she is not the murderer or saboteur that they speak of!' And yet, think of all the times we have been fooled by the Separatists, and infiltrated the Republic and ask yourself, is this another Separatist scheme? Another way to rip the Jedi, and subsequently, all of us, apart?" The Chancellor paused. "Please take a moment of consideration, then cast your vote."

Tense minutes went by. After what seemed like an eternity, Vice-Chancellor Amedda strode over to Palpatine, placing the vote tally in his hand.

Glancing down at the small devices, he announced, "By an overwhelmingly alarming count of votes, this Senate agrees that former Padawan Ahsoka Tano will thus be executed as soon as possible."

As Ahsoka is led away, she couldn't help but let a few stray tears slip down her cheeks in betrayal.

***

"Chancellor!" A familiar voice interrupts, bursting into the Senate room not long afterwards.

Palpatine raises an eyebrow at the intruder. "I hope you have a good reason for coming in so late, Master Jedi?"

Anakin Skywalker's voice hardens as cold fury threateningly licks the edges of his gravelly tone. "I found them," he snarled as all the Senate's cameras focused on him. "I've found the real culprit, the mastermind behind all these crimes that my Padawan has been accused of." He took a slight step sideways. "Barriss Offee! Member of the Jedi Order... and traitor."

As the masked, emotionless Temple Guards moved their blazing yellow lightsabers ever-so-slightly, the pale Mirialan Padawan stepped forward.

"Tell them the truth," Anakin commanded.

Barriss gazed down at the ground and inhaled sharply before starting.

"I did it. Because I've come to realize, like so many in the Republic have come to realize, that the Jedi are the ones responsible for this war. Fallen so far from the light we once held so dear! This Republic is failing! It's only a matter of time."

Murmurs flew around the Senate as its members pivoted in their seats, whispering to one another at this new revelation.

"Take her away!"

Barriss's eyes glinted yellow.

As she was marched away by the Temple Guards, the quiet chatter amongst the Galactic Senators immediately fell silent.

"Where is my Padawan?" Anakin demands, hands curled up into fists, shaking with silent rage.

"Why-"

"Tell me where Ahsoka is, Your Excellency," the Knight hissed through clenched teeth.

The Chancellor glared at the young man standing before him. "She is in Execution Chamber 66, awaiting her fate."

Anakin didn't even bat an eyelid before rushing out the door.

***

Ahsoka. Ahsoka, can you hear me? Anakin thought desperately as he raced through the Senate building. No response. Anakin didn't want to imagine the worst, but that was all he was able to think of. Why else wouldn't she answer? Ahsoka?

Master!

His eyes widened, relief briefly flooding through his veins. She was still alive! The Chancellor had said she was in Execution Chamber 66...

62, 63, 64, 65... Finally! 66.

Just as he burst into the room, time seemed to freeze. A strangled scream escaped Anakin's mouth. 

There she was. 

Ahsoka's wrists and ankles were cuffed tightly to the wall, and judging by the high amount of Force power in the room, the shackles were Force-absorbant, allowing her no chance to escape. Tear streaks gleamed on her cheeks in the bright chamber light, and her normally radiant blue eyes sparkled with misery. Countless gashes and scars littered her face and lekku, blood dripping from them all. She was almost unrecognizable.

Yet that wasn't even the worst part.

Standing directly beside his broken, innocent little sister, was a Temple Guard. Time unfroze, and Anakin watched helplessly as the guard turned his saber hilt, guiltlessly thursting the yellow blade into her chest.

"NO!" He roared. But it was of no use. He was too late.

***

Anakin stood there, stunned. He barely noticed the Guard casually strolling out of the execution chamber as if nothing had happened. All he saw was the luminescent yellow blade severing his beloved apprentice's heart on repeat.

He finally shook himself out of his trance, his world crashing down on him. "Ahsoka," he found himself sobbing, holding her limp body close. "Where are you now? Are you in a better place? A world without corruption?" He held her close for hours, endless tears streaking down his face. What was left of Anakin's facade finally crumbled. He'd lost Qui-Gon first. Then his mother. Now, yet another light had faded into eternal darkness. Ahsoka Tano was gone, and she wasn't coming back.

***

Hours later, he suddenly noticed something, glinting under the moonlight. A pendant --  tightly clutched in her hand. Gently unravelling Ahsoka's fingers, a small Jedi Order symbol glinted the faint light. Even after their betrayal, in her last moments, she'd held onto her family until the end, in hope that they would come round. 

***

Anakin's journal entry on Ahsoka's passing:

Today, the galaxy cries for Ahsoka Tano. We honour the passing of a fierce, loyal and dedicated young woman. She was kind, loved by all she met. Yet, her charming personality proved to not be enough, betrayed by the one she thought to be her best friend. Betrayed, not only by Barriss Offee but by the entire Order, by the entire Republic. As soon as she was thought to be the mastermind behind a heinous crime, people turned their backs on her. Even the Council put politics before compassion. Politics before family. In the end, her confidence in the Order wavered, but unlike them, she valued their ideals and stood with them until she was gone. Ahsoka, I hope that you are finally at peace, in a place far above, without the harsh, demeaning actions of humankind. I wish that we could've spoken once more. I would sacrifice anything to be with you one last time, and I am so sorry that I was too late to save you. I hope that we meet again in the afterlife, that I shall greet you warmly, and pass on the message that your legacy continues to thrive. May the Force be With You, Ahsoka. Mi d'bhem yeh.