Twilight of the Apprentice Part 3

Axle's POV

I ran towards the cliffs of the temple. I looked up to see rock formations. I climbed on top of them and parkoured around until I gabbed the edge of the temple and pulled myself up. Maul came running towards me, "We must help them." He pointed to Ahsoka and Kanan fighting the Fifth Brother. I force jumped up to their position. The Inquisitor was the last one standing. I could tell by the smirk on Maul's face that he killed the Seventh Sister. The Fifth Brother had a scared look on his face, but turned it into blind hatred and attacked me straight on. I pulled out my split saber and countered him. I was a blur to his eyes. I caught him off balance and crossed both my sabers across his stomach. He screamed in pain, then fell dead on the ground. I didn't even notice my eyes felt on fire. Ahsoka looked at me a little afraid, "Axle, your eyes." I took in deep breaths and let my body relax. My yellow eyes turned back to normal again. I ran over to her, "Ahsoka, Jax....Jax is dead. Barriss killed him." She looked horrified, "Jax? Oh my God." Her heart rate and breathing increased, "Barriss? How did Barriss find us?" I brought her into a hug, "She was tracking Jax's ship. She's taking his body back to their home." "I can't imagen the pain she's going through." Ahsoka said with a tear and we both kissed.

"Where's Ezra?" Kanan asked. "My apprentice is activating the temple. You will not stand in my way." Maul answered and spun around, striking Kanan in the face. I ran to his side, "KALEB!!!" "Get him." Kanan responded. I paused, but ran to engage Maul with Ahsoka.

The fight was just like back on Mandalore. Maul seemed like he's gotten slower considering his age. I sensed something and looked up. There was something coming. I looked to Ahsoka and she nodded. We both jumped on top of a ledge. "Running away again, Lady Tano? And I expect you to stay and fight, Master Tinguard." Maul taunted. I smirked at him, "If you wanna finish our fight, you'll have to face him." Maul turned around to see Kanan with a temple guard's mask on. "Go get Ezra." He ordered. Ahsoka and I nodded and ran off to find him.

Ahsoka and I slowed down as a dark figure standing over Ezra came into view. "I'm not afraid of you." Ezra yelled. The dark figure didn't move, "Then you will die braver than most." He slashed at Ezra's saber, destroying it, "Perhaps I was wrong." "It wouldn't be the first time." Ahsoka shouted. Our breath slowed. Vader turned around, "It was foretold you would be here. Our long awaited meeting has come at last." "I'm glad we gave you something to look forward to." I replied. Vader paused, "We need not be adversaries. The Emperor will show you mercy if you reveal where the remaining Jedi are hiding." Ahsoka and I lashed out, "There are no Jedi! You and your Inquisitors have seen to that!" Vader looked at Ezra, "Perhaps this child will confess what you will not." Ahsoka and I felt a tsunami of emotions hit us, "We were beginning to think we know who you were behind that mask, but it's impossible. Our Master could never be as vial as you." "Anakin Skywalker was weak. I destroyed him." Vader answered. Ahsoka and I looked at each other after finally confirming the truth, "Then we will avenge his death." Vader did not hesitate, "Revenge is not the Jedi way." Ahsoka and I gave serious and focused faces not showing any emotion, "We are no Jedi." Ahsoka ignited her white sabers and I ignited my green blade and purple shoto. Vader ignited his crimson red blade and we engaged in a duel that shook the universe.

Ahsoka and I battled Vader all around the temple. He was stronger than I had thought. I knew I had the capability to eventually overpower him, but there was something stopping me from doing so. Ahsoka could feel it too. Vader pushed me back and he parried Ahsoka. He then pushed her off the ledge. I ran over to where she was and I saw her hit the ground, "AHSOKA!!!" She slowly got back up, "I'M OK. LOOK OUT!!!" I turned around as Vader swung at me with his red blade. I dodged it and continued to battle him.

Vader kept pushing me back. His darkness was too strong for me to get the upper hand. We were both an equal match. I knew who he really was. That is what is holding me back. "YOU BETRAYED YOUR FAMILY!!!" I yelled when we got into a blade lock. Vader pushed me back and we locked blades again, "YOU BETRAYED AHSOKA!!!" I could feel Vader's anger as he pushed me back even further into the temple, " YOU BETRAYED ME!!!" Vader struck down at me as I used both blades to block his attack. His strength pushed me to bend my knees. He pushed further down on my sabers. I grit my teeth trying to push back. I could hear Ezra from behind me, "AXLE!!!" I stared into Vader's mask, "I'M TRYING KID!!!" I looked behind Vader and saw Ahsoka running towards us. I stared back at Vader and screamed in anger as I lifted myself up and pushed him back hard. Ahsoka jumped up and sliced Vader in the mask. She fell hard to the ground and I rushed to help her up.

I grabbed her arm and pulled her to her feet when we felt a familiar presence, "Ahsoka." Both our eyes snapped open. We looked at each other then behind us to Vader slowly getting up. "Axle." He says with the same calm tone. Vader's eyes could be seen from the cracked part of his mask. They turned a soft blue color. Ahsoka and I were stunned beyond belief, "Anakin." None of us moved as we stared at our old friend. Ahsoka broke the silence, "We won't leave you." I put my hand on her shoulder, "Not this time." Vader looked at the two of us. I could feel his conflict. That all went away when his eyes turned back to their hardcore red yellow, "Then you will die." He ignited his crimson blade and slowly walked toward us. Ahsoka turned back to me and I looked into her eyes. "For Anakin." I said with a tender voice. "For Anakin." Ahsoka repeated. I could hear Kanan and Ezra behind us, "Axle, Ahsoka, come on hurry." We turned around and force pushed the two of them back. I stared at Kanan. He could not see me, but he knows what I was thinking. Ezra was screaming as the temple doors closed, "NO!!! AXLE!!! AHSOKA!!!" Ahsoka and I both knew what was going to happen.

Out of nowhere, Vader's blade came crashing down at Ahsoka and she parried the attack. I whipped around and sliced at Vader pushing him back. Ahsoka and I engaged him together. The doors to the temple closed. We kept pushing Vader back, but he quickly recovered. Vader force pushed me away from him and I hit the ground hard. He did the same with Ahsoka as she hit the ground next to me. I quickly got up and blocked Vader's strikes, but he eventually parried me which sent me back to the ground. Ahsoka and I got up on our knees. We nodded to each other as we force pushed Vader into a wall. We stayed on our knees and looked around at the crumbling temple. Explosions were everywhere. Fire filled the room. I looked back at Ahsoka. We stared into each other's eyes and pulled each other in tightly. The fire surrounded us, but we paid no mind. We put our heads together and closed our eyes. Memories flowed through our minds. The first day we met Anakin. The first night we fell in love. The day we would have been executed for treason. At least we got another sixteen years. The implosion finally destroyed the temple structures. Ahsoka and I gave one last kiss as we were consumed by the destruction. The last thing we heard was Anakin's voice, "I would never let anyone hurt you. Never."

Ezra's POV

I cried in Kanan's arms. They were gone. The explosion destroyed everything. I could hear Kanan's sobs from under his mask. His best friend for years was gone. There was no way for him to ever see Axle and Ahsoka again. They were friends for twenty-eight years and now Kanan has to say goodbye. I knew them for almost one year and the loss was unbearable. I wonder what Kanan was going through after knowing them for almost his entire life. We didn't speak for the rest of the ride home.

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We landed back on Attolon as the others came to welcome us back. Rex and Chase ran to the ship, but showed worried faces when they didn't see Axle and Ahsoka. I looked at them with tears in my eyes. The two clones fell to their knees and looked down. Their tears hit the dirt creating a river of sadness. Hera ran into Kanan's arms. She looked at his eyes which were covered by a cloth. D walked up with his squad. They realized what happened. D just stood there speechless. They all removed their helmets. D got on one knee as the other Mandalorians followed. They started to speak in Mandalorian as of some sort of honor speech.

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3RD Person

It was evening. Everyone from Phoenix Squadron and Shadow Legion showed up. Senator Organa also made an appearance along with a droid. R2-D2. They all sat down in a ceremonial gathering. Kanan, Ezra, Chase, Rex, Organa, R2, Commander Sato, and many others stood in front of the large group. Nobody spoke a word. They were too sad to make a sound. The only noise that could be heard was the soft sound of sobbing in the audience.

Commander Sato broke the silence, "We are here to honor the passing of two allies, friends, and family. Gentleman, if you would." Sato nodded to Rex and Chase. Rex walked up and fell to his knees. He slowly placed Ahsoka's Padawan braid to the ground. Chase followed in the slow movements as he placed down Axle's Padawan braid. Sato grabbed the edges of the braids and placed them together resembling their love. The beaded string wrapped around the braided piece of hair. Sato looked up at everyone, "I now ask a moment of silence to honor the passing of Axle Tinguard and Ahsoka Tano." Nobody spoke a word as they all looked down at the dirt.

Sato finally spoke, "Thank you. Axle and Ahsoka were an unbreakable bond. They loved each other from the moment they met. And they will continue to love each other even after their time has ended. They are heroes to everyone here and are heroes to the entire galaxy. They gave their lives for our cause. We shall honor their sacrifice forever. Even though they were not married by law, they were betrothed by the force. I now allow Kanan Jarrus, Jedi Knight and close friend to Axle and Ahsoka, to speak."

Kanan removed his cloth covering his eyes, "I met Axle and Ahsoka when we were very young. Axle was a silly, but amazing role model. He taught me how to be a good leader, how to improvise, and how to choose my own path. Ahsoka was a sarcastic, but fun person to talk to. She taught me how to love, believe, and carry on. They will always be a part of us and continue to teach us new things. Goodbye....Old friends."

Sato nodded, "Axle Tinguard an Ahsoka Tano will be forever known as Masters of the Force. They will be what guides us to believe in a brighter future." Sato then faced a large structure covered in a cloth. He nodded to a technician who removed the cloth revealing a statue of Axle and Ahsoka holding each other tightly and holding a lightsaber in their offhand. Their faces looked forward toward the crowd. Sato looked back toward the people, "We dedicate this statue to the Wolves of the Force. They are a hope for tomorrow." The Commander then turned to face the sculpture once again and looked up at their faces, "Axle Tinguard. Ahsoka Tano. May the force be with you, always." He knelt down on one knee as the rest of the audience followed. The statue of the two Masters overlooked the entire base at their family as the sun slowly disappeared into the night.