A/N: So I just finished watching season 7 of the Clone Wars and damn was it good! I legit sat there for a moment after turning off the TV to absorb it all. So I got to thinking - and this is where the MAJOR SPOILER ALERT comes in, DO NOT READ if you haven't seen Clone Wars Season 7 - you have been warned - what if Ahsoka had taken Maul's hand when he offered it in the throne room on Mandalore? So that's where this quick little fic came from. Hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: Seriously, you should know by now that I don't own any of it. This is all Lucasfilm's and Disney's.

If

"The time of the Jedi has passed! They cannot defeat Sidious!" Maul looked absolutely terrified. Then he steeled himself. "But, together...you and I...can." He gazed at her, and the yellow-orange eyes unnerved her. "Every choice you have made...has led you to this moment." Maul offered her his hand.

Ahsoka hesitated. Should she? On the one hand, if what he was saying was true (which she wasn't entirely sure it was), she could prevent a whole lot of pain by joining him. On the other, she didn't trust Maul for shit, and with good reason. She couldn't trust him to not kill Obi-Wan on sight.

A window exploded, sending a spray of broken glass and ash into the throne room. Neither of them flinched; Maul's hand did not waver from its position. She knew he was serious about his offer, if a little insane.

"I will help you," Ahsoka said finally. "But you must answer one question."

"You have but to ask," Maul said. Ahsoka couldn't tell if he sounded relieved, triumphant, or terrified - maybe all three.

Ahsoka took a deep breath, then asked, "What do you want with Anakin Skywalker?"

Maul practically hissed. "He...is the key to everything," he told her.

"To bring balance to the Force?" Ahsoka asked, remembering the prophecy.

"To destroy," Maul replied. "He has long been groomed for his role..." Maul took a sharp breath. "As my master's new apprentice."

Ahsoka couldn't believe it. "You lie," she hissed.

Maul lowered his hand. "I'm afraid not. In fact," he said, "I was so certain of his fate that I orchestrated this war to lure him here with Kenobi...to kill him. Thus depriving Sidious of his prized pupil." He was gesturing as he said this, motioning toward the shattered window. Ahsoka couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"N-no," she stuttered.

"Let me show you," Maul said, holding out his hand again. "Let me show you what I've seen."

Ahsoka didn't trust him, but she had to know.

She took his hand.

Immediately she was pulled into the Force, seeing the same vision Maul had seen. It was horrifying. Anakin, murdering younglings; Sidious, cackling evilly as Force lightning flew around him; Padme, choking, and somehow Ahsoka knew it was Anakin on the other end; Obi-Wan, lightsaber out, shouting, "I have failed you, Anakin!"; Anakin, limbs cut off, lying on the bank of a lava river and screaming, "I HATE YOU!"; and perhaps the most terrifying image of all: A black mask with crimson-tinted eyes, and the sound of a deep, rattling breath through a respirator.

"NO!" Ahsoka pulled away, scrambling back a few steps. Maul remained where he was, watching her with - was that sympathy? - in his eyes.

"This is what is to be unless you join me now," Maul said. "We can still change his fate."

Some part of her whispered that this was wrong, that he'd just destroy Sidious and move on to take the power for himself, but a larger part of her wanted to save Anakin.

Maul offered her his hand once more. "Come with me. Help me destroy Sidious."

"On one condition," Ahsoka said.

"Name it," Maul said quickly.

"No trying to kill Obi-Wan. Or Anakin. And no attempting to sieze the power for yourself. Let go of your hatred. You can be better than this. Also, we take Rex with us," Ahsoka demanded.

"You are a demanding little Togruta," Maul muttered. Ahsoka glared at him.

"Do you want my help or not?"

Maul groaned. "Ugh, fine."

Ahsoka smirked at his discomfort. He deserved far worse than this, she thought.

For the second time, she took his hand.

She felt it in the Force as Maul closed his eyes and made a conscious effort to release his hatred. It wasn't quite working.

"Let go," Ahsoka murmured.

"I can't!" Maul growled.

"Yes, you can," Ahsoka insisted. "Here, I'll help."

She closed her eyes and concentrated, reaching out into the Force. She found Maul's struggle easily and added her presence to his, the light in her starting to overwhelm the darkness in him.

"What are you doing?" Maul muttered.

"Helping," Ahsoka replied. "Now let go."

He did. She was surprised he'd listened.

Eventually, their Force presences settled, Maul's now wiped clean of most of the darkness. Everyone had a dark side - but Maul's was now considerably smaller.

Ahsoka opened her eyes first. Maul's hand had clenched on her arm as she helped him, but now he relaxed his grip. It hadn't hurt, but that may have just been because she hadn't been conscious of it.

Maul blinked open his eyes; they were now a clear yellow, not tainted by the Sith orange. He met her gaze warily.

"This feels...strange," he said. "I'm not...used to the light. What did you do?"

"I honestly don't know," Ahsoka replied. "Somehow the light in me overtook the dark in you and banished it. Now you can start over."

"Start over..." Maul mused. "Yes, but the question is, will the Jedi let me?"

"Assuming we can stop Sidious, let's hope they will," Ahsoka said.

"Damn," Maul muttered. "Sidious. That was one hatred you couldn't wipe away."

"Don't we all hate him?" Ahsoka pointed out.

Maul accepted this with a nod. "Fair. But if we're going to stop him, we must go now, before it's too late."

He seemed to realize at the same time she did that neither had let go of the other's hand. Ahsoka drew her hand away first, looking away awkwardly.

"Well then," Maul said. "Let's go."

Aaand it's up to the readers to decide what happens next. Leave a review if you want me to do a part two! Hope you enjoyed.