Worlds Enough and Time

"Anakin Skywalker! What do you think the Jedi order/Obi-Wan/Ahsoka could have done differently to save him from turning?" for rootspiral

One of the reasons why I love Star Wars: The Clone Wars is because it shows no one thing contributed to Anakin’s Fall. But also Palpatine is a big contributing factor to Anakin’s Fall too.

Palpatine befriended Anakin at a young age and proceeded to nurture that relationship enough to win Anakin’s trust. Unfortunately, the Jedi was blind to this.

IMO the primary reason why Palpatine succeeded in turning Anakin wasn’t just
because of Padme’s so-called condition but because Palpatine removed Anakin’s support systems from him. Anakin was actually doing better, all things considered, when Ahsoka was around and then the whole Wrong Jedi arc happened and Ahsoka lost faith in the Order and herself and walked away. Anakin started to backslide, and it’s not a coincidence that when Anakin Fell Obi-Wan was offworld.

If the Wrong Jedi arc was prevented, I think Palpatine would have a harder time turning Anakin. Also, I think Ahsoka would notice something would be worrying Anakin and ask.

She already suspected/knew Padme and Anakin were in a relationship, I feel like Ahsoka would quietly convey this to Anakin and ask him if there’s a problem. Between Obi-Wan and Ahsoka, I think Anakin would likely confide in Ahsoka more.

Since Ahsoka is more straightforward about it, she would insist on Padme’s medical check-ups and assure Anakin that medical science lessened the mortality rate for pregnancies.

I think Anakin might be even voice how he’d want to leave the Order with Ahsoka (just as he hinted in the Wrong Jedi arc) and I feel like Ahsoka might feel apprehensive about it but ultimately support Anakin. She knows more than most how stifled Anakin feels within the Jedi.

Basically, I think Ahsoka really was a big part of Anakin’s support structure and when she left the Order, he became greatly unbalanced and Palpatine took advantage of that.

For @ayrki​

I thought about this AU and I realized I don't think this can be a complete AU swap considering her state of mind during the events of Revenge of the Sith and who she is. Here’s what I think an AU of this would look like, I hope it’s okay it’s not exactly what the prompt requested:

At the start of RoTS it would've been a few months (year?) since Ahsoka walked away from the Jedi Order and Ahsoka was disillusioned but she still helped the Jedi when she could.

Namely when she helped organize a resistance against Darth Maul (guy has more lives than a cat) in Mandalore. Ahsoka went toe to toe against Maul and if Order 66 hadn't been activated, she would have captured him.

So if we diverge from the moment Rex (Anakin's loyal right-hand man in the 501st) faked both his and Ahsoka's death the AU can start before Ahsoka goes into self-imposed exile, somehow Ahsoka managed to intercept a message from Obi-Wan about Padme's condition, and the rendezvous point at Polis Massa.( Read more... )

Edited