The Story Of Anakin Skywalker's Only Padawan
Since her debut in 2008’s Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated series, fans of all levels would have come across Ahsoka Tano at some point. While much of her journey is limited to what you have seen on screen, did you know about her life in between all of the content which has been shown so far? We will explore the fascinating life of Ahsoka Tano, her accomplishments, her hardships, and much, much more.
Ahsoka Tano was born on the planet Shili, the homeworld of the Togruta. Jedi Master Shaak Ti also hailed from this world. However, even though she was born on this planet, Tano was primarily raised on Coruscant, being brought there at an early age by Jedi Master Plo Koon. He had saved her from near enslavement by an imposter who had intercepted a signal from the Jedi Order and had hoped to use her powers for his own uses. Fortunately, Plo Koon came to her aid and ultimately brought her to the Jedi Temple to learn the ways of the Force.
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Over the years Ahsoka trained with the Jedi and her powers grew strong in the Force. When the time came, she took part in the Jedi tradition and journeyed to the planet Ilum for her first kyber crystal to power her lightsaber. While she managed to acquire her crystal, she did have some difficulty as the sun began to set, freezing the opening to the cave in which the crystals were held. Calming herself, she remembered the teachings of Master Yoda and was able to claim her prize.
We know that not long after the battle of Geonosis and the start of the war between the Separatists and the Republic, the fourteen-year-old Togrutan was introduced to Anakin Skywalker as his Padawan, much to his dismay. Their adventures from the Battle of Christophsis to their final meeting before the Siege of Mandalore were well documented throughout The Clone Wars animated series. Viewers were able to see the series through to its conclusion which coincided with the fall of the Jedi Order and the formation of the Galactic Empire.
Through it all, Ahsoka Tano survived. With the help of Captain Rex, she fled to the Outer Rim with hopes of evading the newly formed Galactic Empire. She managed to make her way to the planet Thabeska, a world with a small population and far away from any major hyperspace routes. Under the name of Ashla, she kept a quiet life and her Jedi abilities hidden in a bid to remain hidden from the Empire. For years she kept to herself, working jobs such as a mechanic repairing droids, while also repairing farm equipment on the remote world of Raada.
Despite her best efforts, circumstances eventually led her to Senator Bail Organa to join the newly formed Rebel Alliance and operate his intelligence networks. Taking on a codename, she was armed with new lightsabers housing kyber crystals she appropriated after killing the Sixth Brother during the Imperial occupation of Raada. She took the red Sith crystals from the Inquisitor’s dual-bladed weapon and purified them through the Force to make them brilliant white.
Ahsoka’s fate was unknown when The Clone Wars animated series ended. Thus, fans were pleasantly surprised to see a wiser, more mature Ahsoka in Star Wars Rebels. As “Fulcrum,” she designated missions in secret to Rebel cells across the galaxy, one of which was the ragtag crew of the Ghost that included two Jedi Kanan Jarrus and Ezra Bridger.
Not long after revealing her identity to the crew of the Ghost, Ahsoka assisted them in escaping Lothal. It was then when she and Jarrus attempted to learn the identity of the Sith Lord tasked with bringing down the Lothal insurrection: Darth Vader. A strange feeling through the Force caused her to collapse into unconsciousness. It brought about a realization for Vader. The presence he sensed was that of the former Padawan of Anakin Skywalker.
The two would eventually engage in a vicious duel in the Sith Temple on Malachor where Ahsoka’s earlier suspicions came to tragic light. She discovered that Darth Vader was indeed her former master. Despite her pleading that she would not leave him again, it appeared that Vader had killed her. It was later revealed in Rebels that Ezra Bridger pulled her through a portal to a mysterious dimension before Vader delivered the killing blow.
Years pass. The Galactic Civil War had ended, and Ahsoka embarked on a new mission. Her paths crossed with that of the Mandalorian Din Djarin, a bounty hunter who was accompanied by a youngling of the same species as the wise Master Yoda. Through the Force, Ahsoka ascertained that Grogu was the young one’s name and that he had escaped the fall of the Jedi Temple. However, she refused to train Grogu as he had become attached to the bounty hunter, viewing him as a father figure. She guided the Mandalorian Din Djarin to a place where Grogu could connect with the Force and allow another Jedi to find him.
After enduring much pain and suffering, Ahsoka Tano fulfilled her purpose in her lifetime. Her devotion to helping those unable to defend themselves made her one of the most prolific Jedi known. She could always be relied upon when called for help from others. I cannot wait for the new Disney+ series to air soon, broadcasting the life of one of the more interesting characters in the Star Wars universe.
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Source(s): Wookieepedia