**Chapter 404: Reunited Souls**
**Scene 1 – Ashara's POV**
A capable fighter and knowledgeable of the Jedi Code, Ashara had always believed that Jedi should be more proactive against the Sith. She felt her masters were not helping her see her full potential as a Jedi. These traits brought her close to the dark side, but even while traveling with Kallig, she tried her best to keep to the Jedi ways.
During her time spent with Nox, Ashara found many contradictions within the Sith Order. They claimed to follow their passions but were always at each other's throats with no thoughts of friendship. She even criticized the Empire's xenophobic outlook when the original Sith were not human. Despite this, through debate and discussion with Nox, she came to the conclusion that the best hope for peace was not to destroy the Empire, but to reform it, feeling that an Empire that was strong but rational would do better than the Republic.
That was what she believed then. After several wonderful years with Nox in secrecy, awaiting the birth of their daughter, she was killed. Her last vision for Nox was him falling back into darkness.
Now she awakened.
Where am I?
The hum of a medical droid filled her ears. Soft lights. Clean, sterile air. A gentle beeping nearby.
"Sir, she has regained consciousness," the droid said.
"Is she stable?" another voice asked — calm, tired, familiar in a way she couldn't place.
"Alim… is it you?" Ashara whispered, her voice hoarse.
"Nope," the man replied gently. "Dagon. Welcome to the future, Ashara. Your husband is still sleeping. Look in the next bed."
She turned her head slowly. There he was — Nox. Younger. His face smooth, no longer marked by years of war. His eyes closed in peaceful sleep, the scars of age gone.
Tears welled up instantly.
"Wait… where is my daughter?" she said in sudden panic, her hand flying to her stomach. It was flat. Empty. "No… no, please…"
She started to panic, breath coming in short gasps.
"Easy," Dagon said, moving closer but not touching her. "You are alive. But I couldn't save your unborn kid. I'm sorry."
Tears flowed freely now. Ashara curled into herself, sobbing quietly. The loss hit her like a physical blow — the child she had felt growing inside her, the future she had dreamed of with Nox, all gone in an instant of betrayal and violence.
Dagon stayed close, his presence steady and warm in the Force. "I know it hurts. Take all the time you need."
**Scene 2**
Nox stirred a few minutes later, groaning softly as he woke. His purple eyes opened, unfocused at first, then sharpened on the woman beside him.
"Ashara…?"
She turned, tears still streaming down her face. "Alim…"
He sat up instantly, ignoring the medical droid's protests, and pulled her into his arms. They clung to each other like drowning souls finding shore, sobbing openly.
"You're here," Nox whispered, voice breaking. "You're really here. I thought I lost you forever."
"I thought the same," Ashara replied, burying her face in his neck. "I saw you falling… into darkness. I was so scared for you."
"I almost did," he admitted, holding her tighter. "After you were gone… after our daughter… I wanted to burn everything. But Dagon gave me a second chance. He brought me back. And now you."
They pulled back just enough to look at each other — young faces, healed eyes, bodies restored to their prime.
"You look… so young," Ashara said, touching his cheek. "Like when we first met."
"You too," Nox replied, smiling through tears. "Nineteen again. The Force works in mysterious ways."
Dagon watched from the side, giving them space. "I'm sorry about your daughter. I tried… but the spark was too faint. I couldn't pull her through."
Ashara nodded, fresh tears falling. "I know. I felt it… at the end. But having Nox back… it's more than I dared hope for."
Nox kissed her forehead. "We'll honor her memory. We'll build something better. Together."
The two talked for a long time — about their years in hiding, the quiet joy of expecting their child, the pain of her loss, and the hope of a new future. Dagon eventually left them to catch up, stepping out into the corridor where the girls waited.
**Scene 3 – Medical Bay**
The girls were looking at him angrily as he exited.
Ahsoka stepped forward first. "You stunned us. Again."
Zule's golden eyes flashed. "After everything we've been through, you still don't trust us to stand with you?"
Kayla crossed her arms. "We're supposed to be a family."
Flare shook her head. "This hurts, Dagon."
Stella stayed silent, but her expression was pained.
Visenya looked away.
Dagon had enough.
"A relationship goes two ways," he said, voice low but firm, anger simmering beneath the surface. "Look, unlike you guys, I already lived a devastating war. Now I'm in it again — against a multi-planet war across a galaxy, with new threats coming up each day. So for the last time, remember I gave you girls a choice before I placed those rings on your hands. Stay or leave."
Silence fell.
With a resounding quiet, they took off their rings and left the bay, one by one.
**Scene 4**
A wave of calm washed over Dagon as the girls left.
A lucky thing he didn't tell them everything. This made it easier.
As the ship moved through hyperspace, he stood alone for a moment, staring out a viewport at the stars.
The weight of his choices settled on his shoulders — heavy, but necessary.
He had Ashara back for Nox.
He had the crystals.
He had the alliance.
The war continued.
But for the first time in a long while, Dagon felt a strange sense of peace.
The girls would come back. They always did.
For now, he had work to do.